Mar, rumored appointees comprise Noynoy's transition team

President-elect Benigno “Noynoy" Aquino III's official transition team will include his defeated running-mate Senator Manuel “Mar" Roxas II and other personalities who are rumored to compose his Cabinet once he assumes the presidency. In an interview outside Aquino's home on Times Street, Aquino's spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the president-elect has informed Malacañang of the official members of his “transition coordination team" through a letter to Presidential Management Staff head Elena Bautista-Horn. Aside from Roxas, other personalities who will compose the team are former Education Secretary Butch Abad and his daughter Julia, who is Aquino's chief of staff; former Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima; and incoming Executive Secretary Paquito “Jojo" Ochoa Jr. Ochoa will be the liaison officer between Aquino’s camp and Malacañang, Lacierda said. The team’s tasks include coordinating arrangements for the inaugural program on June 30, overseeing the smooth turnover of Cabinet portfolio positions, and assisting in the accounting, receipt, and disposition of relevant records, information and other equipment. Experience counts Lacierda said Roxas, Purisima, and Abad were included because of their experiences in the executive department. Roxas was Trade secretary before running for senator in 2004. “He [Aquino] regards Senator Mar Roxas as one of his advisers so that’s the reason why gusto niyang italaga si (he wants) Senator Mar Roxas as part of the transition team," Lacierda said. Aquino has earlier said he would appoint Roxas to a Cabinet post after the one-year ban on appointing unsuccessful candidates. The president-elect had also said he would appoint the elder Abad, who served as the campaign manager of Liberal Party, to a government post. He, however, refused to disclose what position. Purisima is reportedly being considered for the Finance department — a position he held under the Arroyo administration. Aquino has repeatedly refused to confirm this, saying he would announce all members of his Cabinet before his June 30 inauguration. Carpio-Morales instead of Corona According to Lacierda, Aquino has formally requested Supreme Court Associate Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales to administer his oath-taking as the country's 15th president. Aquino refuses to take his oath before Chief Justice Renato Corona, whose appointment by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo he is questioning. Corona served as President Arroyo’s chief of staff, spokesman, and acting executive secretary before he was appointed to the Supreme Court. The President-elect had earlier said that he would not recognize the appointment of Corona, insisting that Corona’s appointment last May 17 was a violation of the 1987 Constitution. Section 15, Article 7 of the Constitution bars the incumbent president from making appointments two months before the elections and until his term ends. The Philippines had its first ever nationwide automated elections last May 10, or seven days before Corona replaced now retired Reynato Puno as chief justice. The SC, in its controversial March 17 decision, ruled that the constitutional provision exempts the high court, which became the basis of President Arroyo in appointing Corona. Carpio-Morales was the lone dissenter in the SC decision allowing President Arroyo to appoint the replacement of then-Chief Justice Reynato Puno, who retired May 17. “Her (Carpio-Morales) position on the Supreme Court decision allowing Mrs. Arroyo to appoint the chief justice is a principled stand that is consistent with the belief of President-elect Aquino," Lacierda said. Spokesman for the inauguration Philippine Daily Inquirer columnist and ANC host Manuel L. Quezon III has been designated as the inaugural spokesperson. Quezon was presidential assistant for historical affairs and deputy head of the chancellery of Philippine orders and state decorations from January 2003 to February 2004. He also had a stint as President Arroyo’s speechwriter back when she was senator and vice president. Quezon, however, said in a phone interview that he and Aquino have yet to discuss whether he would play a role in the incoming administration. “Wala pang napapag-usapan tungkol dun (We have not talked yet about it)," he said. - KBK, GMANews.TV