Arroyo spokesman quits post, prepares to run under NPC

Anthony Golez Jr, the deputy spokesman of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, has formalized his resignation from his post, radio dzBB's Tuesday Niu reported on Friday. Golez, who also held the post of press undersecretary, is eyeing a congressional seat for the lone district of Bacolod City in next year's national elections. He, however, will not run under the ruling Lakas-Kampi-CMD party, but with the Nationalist People's Coalition. In his last press briefing on Friday, Golez thanked all his friends and supporters in Malacañang, particularly Press Secretary Cerge Remonde and his co-spokesperson, Lorelei Fajardo. Seventeen Cabinet members who will reportedly run for public office in the 2010 polls are expected to vacate their posts soon. Health Secretary Francisco Duque and Cabinet Secretary Silvestre Bello III have been included in the ruling party's senatorial slate. Among those reportedly eyeing congressional seats are: Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita; Budget Secretay Rolando Andaya; Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano; Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap; Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser Pangandaman; Secretary Hermogenes Esperon, head of the Presidential Management Staff; Education Secretary Jesli Lapus; and Augusto Syjuco, director general of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority. - GMANews.TV