MANILA, Philippines ? (UPDATE) President-apparent Benigno ?Ninoy? Aquino III has appointed another former member of incumbent Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo?s Cabinet who resigned at the height of allegations that Arroyo cheated in the 2004 elections.

Teresita ?Ging? Deles herself announced Wednesday that she accepted Aquino?s offer to return to government as presidential adviser on the peace process ? a post she held when she resigned, along with nine other Cabinet members, in 2005.

?Yes,? Deles said when asked by reporters if she accepted Aquino?s offer after their lunch meeting at the senator?s residence in Times Street in Quezon City.

Deles said it was not difficult for her to take the post because she has been advising Aquino on the peace process during the campaign.

The priority of the peace process is to have serious peace talks so that ?there will be a closure to the armed conflict,? said Deles.

Deles defended her appointment as she anticipated criticisms from those who opposed the appointment of people, who helped in the campaign of Aquino.

"They have their right to their own opinion. Yung pag appoint sa akin ni President Aquino [My appointment by President Aquino], I think must be based on track record and everyone is free to look at my track record in terms of the peace process and oppose it if they like. That's part of our democracy," she said.

Deles said the appointment was not a payoff because Aquino did not owe her anything.

"Ano kaya ang babayarang utang [What is there to repay]? Ang commitment naman natin lalung-lalo na sa peace sa bayan yan e [Our commitment, especially to peace, that is for the country]. Hindi yan pwedeng gagawin mo lang dahil may bayad utang [You can?t do that simply to repay a debt]," she said.

"Napakalaking bagay nitong issue ng kapayapaan sa ating bansa, napakakitid kung ang tingin dito mareresolba sa bayad utang at saka walang utang si incoming Presidente [The issue of peace is a big one in our country. It is a very narrow view to say that this can be resolved by paying off a debt and the President doesn?t owe me anything]," she further said.

Deles said it was unfair to label a person because every appointment should be based on good governance, integrity and competence.

"If I thought I wasn't capable and didn't have a track record to have possibilities here, I will not accept," she said.

Before Deles, Corazon ?Dinky? Soliman, Arroyo?s social welfare secretary who also resigned over cheating allegations in the 2004 elections, accepted Aquino?s offer to return to government and take on the same position.

Aside from Deles and Soliman, Cesar Purisima, then education secretary Florencio Abad, budget secretary Emilia Boncodin, trade secretary Juan Santos, agrarian reform secretary Rene Villa, National Anti-Poverty Commission chairperson Imelda Nicolas, Internal Revenue Commissioner Guillermo Parayno, and Customs commissioner Alberto Lina were part of the group that came to be known as the ?Hyatt 10,? having announced their resignations at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Pasay City.