Tito Sotto eyed to head Dangerous Drugs Board

MANILA, Philippines - Former senator Vicente "Tito" C. Sotto III on Thursday revealed that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is planning to give him a government post but maintained that he prefers to head the Dangerous Drugs Board. "We have been talking about it since last year," he told Palace reporters in a chance interview late Thursday. "I am inclined to be in the Dangerous Drugs Board if only to have the [Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002] implemented in full." The Dangerous Drugs Board is currently being chaired by Anselmo Avenido. Mr. Sotto was an opposition stalwart and even served as campaign manager of the late actor Fernando Poe Jr. when he ran for President in 2004. But he opted to run as senator under the administration party Team Unity in May 2007 allegedly due to some differences with some opposition figures. The Election Code states that a defeated candidate cannot be appointed to any government position within one year after the election. The ban will lapse on May 15. Earlier reports claim that Mrs. Arroyo is inclined to grant posts to defeated senatorial bets of Team Unity. The Team Unity senatorial bets were former Environment Secretary Michael T. Defensor, then Bukidnon Rep. Jose Miguel F. Zubiri, then Surigao del Sur Rep. Prospero A. Pichay, Jr., re-electionists Edgardo J. Angara and Sen. Joker P. Arroyo, then Sen. Ralph G. Recto; former senators Teresa Aquino-Oreta, and Mr. Sotto, then Zambales Gov. Vicente Magsaysay, Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson; actor Cesar Montano and Sultan Jamalul Kiram III. Among these candidates, only three — Messrs. Angara, Arroyo, Zubiri — won. Mr. Sotto said once he is appointed as chairman of the board, he would intensify rehabilitation of drug users. - BusinessWorld