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Aquino urged to appoint non-LP members, too


Senate Minority Floor Leader Alan Peter Cayetano on Thursday urged President Benigno Aquino III to “think out of the box" and not limit to Liberal Party (LP) members the candidates for vacant government positions. “I hope he takes it as friendly advice: choose the best of the best, whether from LP or another party. Think out of the box, don’t pick candidates just from your own party," Cayetano said during a weekly forum at the Senate. Cayetano said although there are “brilliant people" in the LP and that it is the President’s prerogative who he wants to appoint, there are also other worthy people outside of LP. “Wag lang ilimit sa natalo, pati yung ibang nanalo o di tumakbo as long as the best of the best," he said. He explained that he is worried that the Aquino administration might end up like the previous administrations where he said the government became a “parking lot" of jobless personalities who sought positions in the government. “Usually in the past, if a certain politician close to the President doesn’t have work, he or she will be given a position. It shouldn’t be like that," he said in Filipino. Potential appointees Among the defeated LP candidates who are rumored to be getting Cabinet posts are former Bukidnon Rep. Neric Acosta, a defeated senatorial bet, and former Senator Mar Roxas, who ran for vice president in the May 2010 elections but lost to former Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay. Acosta is rumored to replace Ramon Paje as head of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), while Roxas is expected to serve as President Aquino’s de facto chief of staff. Cayetano said he thinks Roxas will be an “asset" to Aquino, even if he will be appointed because of his role in Aquino and the LP’s campaign in the last elections. He said the upcoming appointment would also provide a “better setup" for Roxas and Binay, perceived contenders in the 2016 presidential elections, to work together. “I’m sure that they’ll be able to develop a working relationship," said Cayetano. - KBK, GMA News

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