Aquino says all Cabinet execs under evaluation, not just Alvarez

MANILA, Philippines—President Aquino on Monday said he was “assessing” the performance of his Cabinet officials and not just that of Customs Chief Angelito Alvarez.

“Hindi naman perpekto ang mundo. Merong hindi ako happy (It’s not a perfect world and there are some in the Cabinet with whom I am not happy),” the President told reporters in Malacañang.

“Sa hindi ako happy, sa hindi maipakitang dapat maretain confidence ko, palagay ko naman magkakaunawaaan kami na kapag hindi makakatulong, dapat tatabi at maihanap ng ibang posisyon o ibang tungkulin (And to those I’m not happy with, to those who cannot retain my confidence, I think they will understand that if they cannot be of help to me, they should step aside and be assigned to another position or duty),” Aquino added.

But he stressed that he believed the country was running well “to a large degree” and that was why he said it would be “illogical” if he would remove Cabinet officials who had helped him improve the country’s situation.

Among those whom the President cited as having helped were his economic team, Environment Secretary Ramon Paje and Agriculture Secretary Proseso Alcala.

Aquino underscored the fact that he and his Cabinet officials were all “accountable to the people.”

“I chose them … but at the end of the day, I’m responsible for their performance,” Aquino said.

On Alvarez, who was reportedly getting the boot in July, Aquino admitted that there was an ongoing evaluation on the Customs’ chief performance as he noted there were “many allegations of this and that” at the latter’s office. Aquino did not elaborate.

Asked if Alvarez will be replaced by July, the President said: “I will inform you as soon as a decision is made.”

Speculations of a Cabinet revamp arose after Aquino said last week he was planning to talk to a Cabinet official because he was unhappy with the latter’s performance in his agency.

A Palace source said Friday that Alvarez may be on the way out in the wake of a controversy involving the smuggling of expensive vehicles and motorcycles into Mindanao.

Palace spokesperson Abigail Valte said nothing is official about news reports of Cabinet changes until the President himself says so.

Saying his conscience was clear, Alvarez blamed his “detractors” for the report and vowed to get to the bottom of the smuggling mess so that those responsible would pay.

Another official in hot water is Bureau of Corrections chief Ernesto Diokno, who is being blamed for the unauthorized trip of homicide convict and former Batangas governor Antonio Leviste outside of the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City.

Diokno has gone on leave, but according to a TV report, which cited sources, he resigned on Monday.