Accommodation king
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Liberal Party also rans topbilled by defeated runningmate of Noynoy, Mar Roxas, appeared to have been guaranteed Cabinet slots, with Roxas already assured of a Cabinet post free from the scrutiny of the powerful Commission on Appointments (CA).
The Palace indicated that an administrative order is ready to revive the Office of the Presidential Chief of Staff and the mere fact that the office was being resurrected after Noynoy himself abolished it earlier showed that it was tailor-fit for Roxas.
Noy’s penchant to conjure up offices and positions for political accommodation is legendary. Three Cabinet posts were given to heads of the communications group, all of whom have obvious overlapping functions in Malacañang.
Despite their different titles, the main function of the three — Ricky Carandang, Edwin Lacierda and Sonny Coloma — was to alternate as Aquino’s spokesmen.
In turn, the three usually end up contradicting each other and what media usually get is each of the three rebutting the other.
Despite the three, Aquino is blaming the lack of the Palace to effectively communicate his achievements on his sliding survey ratings.
Now Aquino is doing a reprise of the three-headed mutant in giving Roxas the chief of staff post that many believe would likely conflict with the post of Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa.
Roxas heads the Balay faction while Ochoa, who really is a stand alone Noynoy appointee, is nevertheless considered as the titular head of the rival Samar faction in the immediate circle of Noynoy.
Critics of Noynoy see the appointment of Roxas marginalizing the functions of Ochoa thus making both ineffective, similar to what had happened to the cancelling out within the communications group among its three heads.
Aside from Roxas, Cabinet positions are being readied for five losing LP bets, former congressmen Neric Acosta, Rufino Biazon, Manuel Mamba, former Isabela Gov. Grace Padaca and senatorial drop out Alex Lacson in time for the end of the one-year constitutional ban on the appointment of those who failed being elected in the May 2010 elections in June.
Roxas had been given unofficial positions that allow him to stay on the side of Noynoy, lending credence to earlier talk about an unholy deal between Noynoy and Mar for an 80-20 share of the presidency in favor of Mar.
Mar, as can be recalled, moved down to the vice presidency when pre-elections surveys showed him having a poor chance of landing the presidency, giving way to Noynoy who was then benefiting from a euphoria after the death of his mother, former President Cory Aquino.
He eventually lost the vice presidency to former Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, whom all considered a dark horse in the race for the second top post and the running mate of former President Joseph Estrada.
Right from the start, Roxas was too visibly insistent in having a key role in the Aquino administration and rumors started that he was after the post of Ochoa.
Roxas holds Aquino by his imaginary braid as he was guaranteed a powerful Cabinet post come hell or high water.
The total accommodation being shown by Noynoy only further reflects his weak character as a leader, in standing up against those who seek to benefit from his presidency.
Even Roxas’ position as chief of staff is considered as preparatory for a more juicy position which some naughty speculators say would be the post of Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima raising suspicion on the source of the current assault on Purisima and his band that include Customs Commissioner Angelito Alvarez and Finance Undersecretary Guillermo Parayno.
Roxas would certainly be an asset when he eventually officially lands a Cabinet post.
An asset, that is, in efforts to bring down Noynoy.
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