nuffnang_bid = "199de163f5b006c71e906850b82c314d";
With less than a day before he takes his oath as the country's 15th president, President-elect Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III on Tuesday finally named key members of his official family.
At a press conference in Quezon City, Aquino introduced the following appointees:
Department of Foreign Affairs - Alberto Romulo (incumbent DFA secretary)
Department of Finance - Cesar Purisima (former DOF secretary and a member of the Hyatt 10)
Department of Justice - Leila De Lima (erstwhile Commission on Human Rights chairperson)
Department of National Defense - Voltaire Gazmin (former Philippine Army chief and Presidential Security Group commander in Cory Aquino's administration)
Department of Education - Bro. Armin Luistro (former De La Salle University president)
Department of Budget and Management - Florencio "Butch" Abad (former DepEd secretary and one of the Hyatt 10)
National Economic and Development Authority - Cayetano Paderanga (who served the same position in Cory Aquino's administration)
Department of Agriculture - Quezon Rep. Proceso Alcala
Department of Environment and Natural Resources - Undersecretary Ramon Paje
Department of Transportation and Communications - Jose "Ping" De Jesus (former DPWH secretary and current Meralco COO)
Department of Labor and Employment Rosalinda Baldos (incumbent undersecretary of the department)
Department of Health - Enrique Ona (incumbent executive director of the National Kidney and Transplant Institute)
Department of Tourism - Alberto Lim (executive director of the Makati Business Club)
Department of Trade and Industry - Greg Domingo (former DTI undersecretary)
Department of Social Welfare and Development - Corazon "Dinky" Soliman (former DSWD secretary and one of the Hyatt 10)
Department of Science and Technology - Mario Montejo
Department of Energy - Jose Rene Almendras (Manila Water Co. Inc. president)
Department of Public Works and Highways - Rogelio Singson (Maynilad president and CEO)
Department of Agrarian Reform - Virgilio de los Reyes (incumbent undersecretary of the department)
Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process - Teresita Deles (former peace adviser and one of the Hyatt 10)
Presidential Management Staff (PMS) head - Julia Abad (Aquino's Senate chief of staff)
Presidential spokesman - Edwin Lacierda (Aquino's campaign spokesman)
Presidential chief legal counsel - Edwardo de Mesa
Commission on Higher Education - Patricia Licuanan (Miriam College president)
Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner - Kim Jacinto-Henares (former BIR deputy commissioner)
Lawyer Paquito "Jojo" Ochoa Jr. is widely known as the Executive Secretary.
However, Aquino said his appointment for the Department of Interior and Local Government secretary is still pending.
Others government posts:
Ambassador to the US - Johnny Santos (former DTI secretary) Bureau of Customs Commissioner - Guillermo Parayno Jr. (former Customs commissioner and former BIR commissioner) Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office chief - Marge Juico (Cory's appointments secretary)
Vice President-elect Jejomar Binay, who has earlier expressed his preference to take over the DILG, refused to accept any Cabinet post after reports surfaced that Aquino was not keen on placing him at the DILG.
Binay later revealed that Aquino offered to make him the head of any of the following: DAR, HUDCC, MMDA, and the commission that will be formed to probe corruption scandals in the Arroyo administration. - with Sophia Dedace/LBG, RJAB Jr.
