Aquino to announce fate of environment chief before weekend

MANILA, Philippines—President Benigno Aquino III said Friday he would talk with certain people before the weekend prior to making an announcement on the fate of acting Environment Secretary Ramon Paje.

Paje is one of two Cabinet members still serving in acting capacity. Their stay in office has become uncertain in light of the lapse of the year-long ban on the appointment to government positions of politicians who lost in the last national elections.

Asked if Paje would be made permanent given his performance, Aquino said, “Let me just talk to some people first” before making an announcement.