The Philippine Online Chronicles

After the Supreme Court-ordered resignation of some cabinet members who will run for local seats in May, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo announced today five new Cabinet secretaries who will replace those who resigned.

Incumbent Department of Transportation and Communications Secretary Leandro Mendoza will replace outgoing Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, who will run for a congressional seat in Batangas.

In an ABS-CBN News Online report, Ermita said that Mendoza has "experience, competence, and reliability” for the highest cabinet post, which is commonly dubbed “the little President.”

In other positions, Solicitor General Alberto Agra will be the Department of Justice Secretary, replacing Quezon congressional candidate Agnes Devanadera; Maritime Industry Authority administrator Elena Bautista is the new Presidential Management Staff chief, replacing Hermogenes Esperon, who will run as congressman in Pangasinan; senior deputy Executive Secretary Jake Lagonera is the new Department of Budget and Management Secretary, a position last held by Rolando Andaya, Jr., who seeks to return to Congress as Camarines Sur representative; and Rogelio Pijuan will replace Technical Education and Skills Development Authority head Augusto Syjuco, Jr., who will run as Iloilo congressman.

Arroyo earlier named Bernardo Fondevilla as Department of Agriculture Secretary, replacing Bohol congressional candidate Arthur Yap. Meanwhile, Arroyo is reportedly considering deputy chief presidential counsel Natividad Dizon as the replacement for outgoing chief presidential legal counsel Raul Gonzalez, who will run as Iloilo City mayor.

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