PHILIPPINES NEWS SERVICE — BE man enough and come out clean about who you are supporting in next year’s presidential elections.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita issued this challenge to Cabinet members and other appointive government officials amid claims that Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo’s admission he was for Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III will create a bandwagon of support for the latter.
Ermita, who is also president of the merged Lakas-Kampi-CMD said Cabinet members should be able to “acquit” themselves before President Macapagal-Arroyo.
“Magpakalalaki na sila. Magsabi na sila kay Presidente rather than magpanggap na sila’y kasama sa partido,” he said.
“I hope those entertaining those thoughts should think about their position. Sabi nga, you can’t have your cake and eat it too. Sila din ang mapapasama,” he added.
Ermita said these Cabinet secretaries should also keep their choices to themselves until they have talked to the President. “Sana sa kalooban na lang nila…It creates a lot of ripples, mas mabuti kimkimin muna nila then ipaliwanag later on,” he said.
Play like a team
House Speaker Prospero Nograles, vice chairman of Lakas-Kampi-CMD, made this call to the members and allies of the administration, in connection to reports that there are some Cabinet members who will support opposition candidates in 2010 elections.
Nograles backed Malacanang’s call to Cabinet members to resign if they cannot commit support to the administration presidential bet.
“Team players follow the game plan of the coach. If they don’t they are benched and won’t play at all,” Nograles said in a text message.
Earlier, Nograles said that Cabinet members who will support presidential bets other than Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro should quit out of “delicadeza.”
The national executive committee of Lakas-Kampi-CMD has chosen Teodoro as the standard bearer. However this is subject to ratification by the general members.