PNoy on appointing Almendras as DFA chief: He has my utmost trust, confidence

President Benigno Aquino III on Wednesday said he appointed Secretary Jose Rene Almendras to head the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in the remaining 113 days of his term because Almendras has his "utmost trust and confidence."

"He has, of course, my utmost trust and confidence proven his skills in so many different fora and, at the end of the day, ‘yung pagdadamay niya sa akin in the remaining 113 days, talagang sinagad-sagad ko na," Aquino said in a chance interview.

"It will be very difficult to get somebody to go through all of the hardship in this post with the expectation that he will only do it for 113 days," he added.

Almendras, whose appointemnt was announced by Malacañang on Tuesday night, will replace resigned Secretary Albert del Rosario.

Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma, Je. said Almendras ceases to be Secretary to the Cabinet upon assumption of his post as DFA secretary.

"The Office of the Cabinet Secretary will be supervised by the Executive Secretary," said Coloma.

Aquino said he considers Almendras his "troubleshooter."

"Baka hindi masyado nating batid ‘yung pagsasara ‘nung isyu sa Hong Kong, malaking bahagi ang parte niya diyan. Iyong dito sa naging gusot natin sa Taiwan, nakihalo rin siya diyan," he said.

The DFA post is Almendras' third appointment under the Aquino administration. He was previously appointed as Department of Energy chief before being given the Secretary to the Cabinet post. —KBK, GMA News