Palace confirms De Jesus resignation as DOTC chief

(Updated 3:51 p.m.) A Malacañang official on Wednesday confirmed the resignation of Transportation and Communications Secretary Jose “Ping" de Jesus, the fifth government official — and third Aquino appointee — to quit his post in the current administration. Herminio Coloma, head of the Presidential Communications Operations Office, said De Jesus met with President Benigno Aquino III last Monday to personally tender his resignation. He said De Jesus, whose resignation will take effect on June 30, told the President that he wants to return to the private sector. “The President and Secretary De Jesus met last Monday… the secretary conveyed to the President his preference to return to the private sector at this time, after completing one year of service on June 30, 2011," Coloma told reporters in Brunei where he joined Aquino for a two-day state visit. Coloma said Aquino commended De Jesus for his service.
“He (De Jesus) eased many of our concerns in the transportation and infrastructure sector, and… our nation is fortunate to have the benefit of his service. Just like what he did during the administration of President Corazon Aquino," Coloma quoted the President as saying. De Jesus was head of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) during the term of the late President Corazon Aquino, the incumbent president’s mother. He said Aquino considers Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) as one of the important portfolio in his administration. De Jesus will leave the DOTC amid a controversy involving an attempted raid by armed men on the office of Stradcom, the IT service provider of the Land Transportation Office. The December 9, 2010 raid was subjected to a Department of Justice probe, upon the request of the DOTC. De Jesus’ looming departure also comes amid the DOTC’s deliberations on whether to raise fares of the Light and Metro Rail Transit (LRT/MRT) systems. Transition Coloma said Aquino and De Jesus also tackled the transition in the DOTC during their meeting, which he said was “cordial." He said Aquino has yet to pick De Jesus’ replacement. “The two of them discussed an orderly transition, that’s why the effectivity is one month from now. So there will be enough time to work out the transition," the Palace official said. Asked if De Jesus was the Cabinet official Aquino wanted to reassign to another post, Coloma said there was no discussion to that effect. “I think people will be in an agreement that he is an exemplary public official who deserves our gratitude for his service to the nation," he said. He added that although they are viewing De Jesus’ resignation as a loss to the administration, they are confident that a rightful replacement will be chosen. “But there are others who are likely to take up the challenge especially since we have a leader who inspires people to do their best to contribute what they can, so that is the spirit in which we are viewing the resignation. There will certainly be others that will be taking up the responsibility too," Coloma said. De Jesus’ resignation occurred on the same week Bureau of Corrections chief Ernesto Diokno, also an Aquino appointee, quit his government post following the controversy involving the alleged special treatment given to former Batangas Governor Antonio Leviste, a convicted killer. Other government officials who resigned from their posts were Alberto Romulo, a carryover from the Arroyo administration whom Aquino retained as Foreign Affairs secretary; Merceditas Gutierrez as Ombudsman; and Jose Melo as Commission on Elections chairman. Gutierrez and Melo were also Arroyo appointees. — KBK, GMA News