Comelec says Cabinet men can keep jobs till October

Too valuable

An LP lawmaker said Roxas was too valuable a Cabinet member to resign just to announce his candidacy in 2016.

Iloilo Rep. Jerry Treñas, the LP’s organizing and membership committee chair, said it was premature to ask Roxas to quit his Cabinet post.

Treñas said Roxas’ role in the Aquino administration “is very important especially at this time when the government is focused on completing all the needed infrastructure support for local government units nationwide in pursuit of its medium and long-term development agenda.”

Another LP stalwart, Caloocan City Rep. Edgar Erice, also came to Roxas’ defense, saying Binay and Roxas’ situations were different.

Erice pointed out that the Vice President had made it known that he was setting his sights on the highest government position right after the 2010 elections.

“Binay does not care because what’s important for him is his ambition. That’s the reason why he resigned, unlike the rest of the Cabinet who know when to resign. They know they should not use their positions for politicking,” he said.

“Since he joined the Cabinet, he (Binay) already used his office in politicking unlike (Roxas) and other Cabinet members who have carried out their tasks.”

Ethical conduct

Malacañang on Wednesday brushed aside calls by some lawmakers for Cabinet members and other government officials planning to run in the 2016 elections to resign and avoid suspicions they are using state resources for personal gains.

“In due time, the political campaign season will start. But until such time, the government will focus on governance,” presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda told the Inquirer.

Presidential Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma said Cabinet secretaries and all other government officials were expected to abide by the norms of good governance and ethical conduct.

Coloma asserted that “for the record, no member of the Cabinet has formally declared the intention to be a candidate in the 2016 elections.”

“Those that may be inclined to do so would be well advised to conduct themselves in a manner that would not be construed as politicking by our bosses, the Filipino people,” he added.

Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Director General Joel Villanueva acknowledged that officials planning to run in 2016 enjoyed the advantage of their current posts. “More so with reelectionists and show biz personalities who get the exposure by the nature of their work.”

Villanueva said that resignation was a personal matter and that he could not answer for others. “As for me, the simple truth is unlike (Binay) and the others, I have not firmed up my decision for 2016,” he said in a text message.

Aside from Roxas

Members of the Cabinet who are expected to run or are among those considering running for elective posts include Villanueva, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya, Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla, Health Secretary Janette Garin, Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras and Metro Manila Development Authority Chair Francis Tolentino (all for Senate seats).With a report from Jerry E. Esplanada

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