Non-candidate GMA has 2 political execs

Although she insists she has no intention of running in the 2004 elections, President Arroyo feels she needs political advice from not just one but two officials.

Two partymates of President Arroyo in the pro-administration Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats are acting as her advisers on political matters.

Jose Rufino, erstwhile presidential adviser on political affairs, was said to have reluctantly ceded his post to former press secretary Hernani Braganza, but kept the title presidential liaison officer on political affairs.

Rufino said he heard on television last Sunday about Braganza’s new appointment from new Press Secretary Milton Alingod.

"We will abide by the President’s decision," he said. "We follow the leader. Let’s leave it at that for now. We’ll wait for further instructions from the President."

Mrs. Arroyo signed the appointment papers of Braganza and Alingod last June 10.

But the new assignments of Braganza and Alingod were only officially announced last Sunday, when Mrs. Arroyo was in Iligan City on the last leg of her seven-day tour of Mindanao.

In an exclusive interview with The STAR Saturday, Braganza said he had been named presidential adviser on political affairs.

However, Rufino said Mrs. Arroyo had not told him anything about giving up the post of presidential adviser on political affairs, which he claimed he had been holding in a concurrent capacity as presidential liaison officer on political affairs.

Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye gave reporters yesterday copies of Rufino’s appointment papers, dated March 15, 2001, which stated he was being named "presidential liaison officer on political affairs with the rank of Cabinet secretary."

Bunye said Executive Secretary Alberto Romulo is still "checking the records" to verify the claim of Rufino that he has two separate appointment papers for presidential adviser on political affairs and presidential liaison officer on political affairs.

"Unless that (with the rank of Cabinet secretary) is stated, the normal rank of presidential liaison officer is undersecretary," he said.

"But in the case of presidential adviser on political affairs, (it) has the automatic rank of Cabinet secretary," Bunye added.

Rufino said the posts of presidential adviser on political affairs and presidential liaison officer on political affairs cannot be separated from one another because "you cannot have two drivers to drive the same car."

Bunye, however, said the two jobs, although exercising "closely intertwined" functions, were distinct.

"And we see a lot of complementation and cooperation between the two offices," he said.

There is no overlapping of functions between Braganza and Rufino, he added.

Bunye said the appointment of Cabinet secretaries is completely the prerogative of the President.

"The office is there, there is always an office for presidential adviser on political affairs," he said. "So whether you have an election or not, the position is existing. It acquires more importance, especially if there is an election."

Bunye said he does not know the difference between the posts of Braganza and Rufino, except their similarities.

Meanwhile, Bunye said he welcomes the appointment of Alingod as press secretary, who was his contemporary in media before martial law. — Marichu Villanueva