MANILA, Philippines – Former senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan will not be joining the Aquino administration — at least for now.

President Benigno Aquino III said he talked to Pangilinan to ask him about his decision, since “it was very clear when we talked that after he finishes his term” he would join Aquino’s Cabinet.

Pangilinan, a member of the ruling Liberal Party, was expected to join the Department of Agriculture (DA).

But Pangilinan appeared to have changed his mind.

“I talked to him and he said he really needs quality time with his family. I said, ‘Ok, then you tell me when you’re available,'” he told reporters on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Bali, Indonesia on Monday evening, October 7.

He said Pangilinan had been “talking about certain functions in DA in particular that he wanted,” before deciding against joining government at this time.

Aquino said he “accepted” Pangilinan’s decision and said he understood, citing Pangilinan’s work for 12 straight years as a two-term senator.

Lacson’s new post

The DA has recently been embroiled in several controversies, particularly in relation to the misuse of government funds, and questionable releases to pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles.

Another former lawmaker however, Sen Ping Lacson, is still expected to join the Cabinet as originally planned.

“We are still ironing out the details exactly what the scope of his functions are. So there’s no overlap, no violation of any existing law, we just want to make sure. So Executive Secretary (Paquito Ochoa Jr) is still studying the proposed Executive Order,” he said.

Lacson, also a former police chief, is expected to head a new anti-corruption agency. – Rappler.com