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MANILA, Philippines – Vice President Jejomar Binay backed some names being floated to head the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) including Executive Secretary Paquito “Jojo” Ochoa Jr.
In an interview on Tuesday, August 28, Binay said that it is best to wait for the cremation of the late DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo before considering who will best replace him. Robredo was being cremated on the same day.
When pressed by reporters, Binay however commented on some of those being rumored for the post.
Asked about Davao Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, Binay said, “[Manila] Mayor [Alfredo] Lim, etc. they are all qualified. Secretary Ochoa, you might forget that before he joined Malacañang, he was working in Quezon City so local government procedures are not new to him.”
“So I’m telling you, all of them are qualified. They are all my friends. I know them all. It’s up the President who he will choose,” Binay said in Filipino.
President Benigno Aquino III has appointed Ochoa officer-in-charge of the DILG following Robredo’s death. Prior to joining the Aquino Cabinet, Ochoa was city administrator of Quezon City. He is a friend of both Aquino and Binay.
The former Makati mayor also reiterated that he is no longer interested in the post even if he expressed interest at the start of the Aquino administration.
“On my part, President Noynoy asked me to work on many things. There is the shelter sector, illegal recruitment and human smuggling. So I will finish what I need to finish that the President is asking me to do,” said Binay.
‘No Samar-Balay rivalry’
Since Robredo’s death on August 18, speculation has been rife that the rivalry between the so-called Balay and Samar factions of the administration was renewed. The groups are allegedly lobbying to take control of the DILG a year ahead of the 2013 midterm polls.
The Balay faction is identified with Binay’s rival for the vice presidency in 2010, Transportation Secretary Mar Roxas, while the Samar faction is linked to the Vice President.
Binay denied the reported jostling.
“Hindi naman issue yan ng Balay at ng Samar. Bigyan na lamang po natin ng pagkakataong makapag-isip ng maigi at makapili ng mahusay na ipapalit kay Secretary Robredo.” (Balay and Samar is not an issue. Let us just give the President the opportunity to carefully think over and choose who will best replace Secretary Robredo.)
Reports said the Balay faction and the ruling Liberal Party are pushing for either Cavite Rep Joseph Emilio “Jun” Abaya, former Isabela Gov Grace Padaca, Duterte and Lim to bag the post.
Ochoa is identified with the Samar faction.
The Inquirer, quoting an anonymous source, said the LP is even urging Roxas “to step up to the plate and move to the DILG.”
Senator Panfilo Lacson has also been mentioned as a possible Robredo replacement.
In an interview Tuesday, LP stalwart Sen Franklin Drilon doubts Aquino has already made a choice, with the President and the party still grieving over Robredo’s death. Robredo belonged to the LP.
“I would like to think the President should make an appointment within the next two weeks,” said Drilon.
Drilon echoed the statement of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima that a Cabinet revamp is still on hold with the President’s official family still mourning. – Rappler.com
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