OUTGOING CABINET MEMBERS
and again we are very fortunate to get her to consent
1. Executive Secretary - Paquito “Jojo” Ochoa
Jojo's father, former mayor of Pulilan, Bulacan
Paquito Ochoa Sr., was an associate of Aquino's
father, the late Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr.
The young Ochoa is also the long-time legal counsel
of the 15th Philippine President.
On his first day as an executive secretary, P-Noy,
through Ochoa, ordered his first memorandum
circular. However, it was immediately revised by
Malacanang the next day to clear some terms in the
memo.
“He has given me the most sound advice on so many
matters pertaining to my work as legislator. Therefore,
I’m very confident his role as the guardian of my back,
he’s more than qualified," P-Noy said of his friend
Ochoa.
2. Foreign Affairs Secretary - Alberto Romulo
Romulo, a former Senate Majority leader, first served
the government during the time of former President
Cory Aquino as part of her economic team. He also
served as chairman of the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (Asean) in 2007. He is the only
member of the Arroyo Cabinet retained by the Aquino
administration.
As senator, Romulo authored legislations such as The
New Central Bank Act, Philippine Veterans Bank Act,
The Social Security System Act, The Salary
Standardization Law, Vital Organ Donation Act and
the Rural Bank Act.
P-Noy said his administration is lucky to have
Romulo, a senior member among his appointments.
3. Finance Secretary - Cesar Purisima
Purisima formerly occupied the Department of Trade
and Industry position. Prior to this, he was chairman
and managing partner of SGV & Co. He was also a
member of the Global Executive Board and Global
Practice Council of Ernst & Young.
4. Justice Secretary - Leila de Lima
De Lima immediately accepted the post after getting
the news from the Aquino camp, prompting her to quit
her post as the chairwoman of the Commission of
Human Rights (CHR). Former chief justice Reynato
Puno recommended De Lima after he turned down
the post.
“The judicial is a very important portion of our platform
to carrying the burden primarily for judicial reform in
our country," P-Noy said.
During his oath-taking, P-Noy ordered De Lima to
start giving fair justice to all Filipinos.
5. Defense Secretary - Voltaire Gazmin
Gazmin, former chief of the Presidential Security
Group (PSG), saved the late former President Cory
and his family, from numerous coup attempts. He also
served as the chief of the Philippine Army.
6. Education Secretary - Bro. Armin Luistro
Luistro is the president of De La Salle University
(DLSU). In a statement released by DLSU, Luistro
accepted the position "after due consultation with
various stakeholders in the Lasallian community". The
Lasallian brothers are very close to the Aquino family.
Luistro, during the turnover ceremony of the
Department of Education (DepEd) post, reportedly
surprised journalists covering the education beat after
telling a radio newscaster: "Wag ninyo akong
tanungin, dahil kayong media hindi kayo
nakakatulong.”
7. Budget and Management Secretary - Butch Abad
Abad served as the campaign manager of the Liberal
Party. He was the former representative of the lone
district of Batanes and was also appointed as
Agrarian Reform Secretary. On July of 2004, Abad
was appointed secretary of the Department of
Education by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
“The budget is the enabler of all of our policy
decisions. We believe he is the best person at the
present time to assist us in judiciously spending the
people’s funds to help him and help us,” P-Noy said of
Abad.
8. Director, National Economic Development Authority
- Cayetano Paderanga
Paderanga, a professor at the University of the
Philippines School of Economics, also served the
same post during the Cory administration.
9. Agriculture Secretary - Proceso Alcala
Alcala, an environmentalist and a non-government
organization worker, is a two-term congressman of
the Quezon's second district. He is one of the
principal authors of the Organic Agriculture Act of
2010 and Mounts Banahaw-San Cristobal Protected
Landscape Act. He was also a co-author of the
Climate Change Act and the Expanded Senior
Citizens Act.
According to his curriculum vitae, Alcala pursued
relentlessly his advocacy for and dedication to
agricultural development, particularly organic
agriculture in the Congress.
10. Environment Secretary - Ramon Paje
Paje, a DENR Undersecretary, will take over the post
of Horacio Ramos. It was earlier speculated that
Ramos will be retained for one year after the ban on
appointing defeated candidates has been lifted and
senatorial bet Neric Acosta can replace him.
11. DOTC Secretary - Ping De Jesus
De Jesus is the president and chief operating officer
of Meralco Corp. He has previously served as the
Public Works secretary in the Cabinet of Noynoy’s
mother, Cory, and during the time of ex-president
Fidel Ramos.
“He is a work-driven individual who will oversee the
transformation of DOTC characterized by the NBN-
ZTE deal into an agency that truly serves the interests
of the people," P-Noy said.
De Jesus ensured the affordability of
telecommunications services as soon as he gets
familiarized with his department.
12. Labor Secretary - Rosalinda Baldoz
Baldoz earlier served as the administrator of the
Philippine Overseas Employment Administration
(POEA). She will be replacing Marianito Roque.
13. Health Secretary - Dr. Enrique Ona
Ona is the executive director of the National Kidney
and Transplant Institute. He will replace Sec.
Esperanza Cabral.
When his appointment was announced to the media,
P-Noy said he has instructed Ona with regard to
expediting universal coverage of PhilHealth, which
was one of the campaign promises of Aquino
considering that health is the third priority in the
platform of the Aquino administration.
14. Tourism Secretary - Alberto "Bertie" Lim
Lim is the president of the Makati Business Club, a
group known to support Aquino even before the
latter's campaign started. Early speculations also
pointed to showbiz talk host Boy Abunda as the new
head of the Department of Tourism (DOT) but Abunda
declined the post. Expectedly, Noynoy's sister Kris
made the suggestion to the president-elect.
“Tourism is seen as one of the key venues for
increasing jobs in the country. We need someone
who has proven competence in this field,” P-Noy said.
It was earlier speculated that Lim was offered the
position after he contributed to Aquino's campaign.
The submitted expenditure reports of Noynoy
however did not show that Lim made any monetary
contribution.
15. Trade Secretary - Greg Domingo
Domingo is the incumbent secretary of the
Department of Trade and Industry. He is expected to
be a one-year appointee only since defeated vice
presidential candidate Mar Roxas will take over his
post.
He is the executive director of SM Investments
Corporation. P-Noy expects Domingo to generate
more jobs for the Filipino people under his
administration.
16. Social Welfare and Development Secretary -
Dinky Soliman
Soliman was a member of the “Hyatt 10” who
resigned from the Cabinet of outgoing president in
July 2005. She has previously occupied the same
post.
17. DOST Secretary - Mario Montejo
In describing Montejo during the announcement of his
Cabinet appointments, Noynoy said Montejo's team
was responsible for the featured slides and waves at
the water amusement park Water Fun using Filipino
technology.
18. Energy Secretary - Jose Rene Almendras
Almendras, an Ayala executive, is the president of the
Manila Water Co. Before joining the Ayala Group of
companies, he was the treasurer of Aboitiz & Co. and
Aboitiz Equity Ventures.
“We do not want to fall into a trap of regulatory
capture. He has his proven competence in the various
firms he had headed and worked for, enables him to
handle the DOE which is primarily a finance-heavy
sector and component of our Cabinet," P-Noy said of courses they are not competent in teaching," P-Noy
Almendras. ordered Licuanan.

19. Public Works Secretary - Rogelio Singson
Singson is the incumbent president and Chief
Executive Officer of Maynilad.
20. Agrarian Reform Secretary - Virgilio Delos Reyes
Delos Reyes is the incumbent undersecretary of the
Department of Agrarian Reform. He was initially
tasked to ensure the agency's mandate of
empowering farmer beneficiaries throughout the
country.
26. Commissioner, Bureau of Internal Revenue - Kim
Jacinto-Henares
Henares has already served as the deputy
commissioner of the same agency.
Major General Ric David meanwhile has been sworn
in as the new Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief
of Staff while Director General Jesus Verzosa, who
will be retiring on the 25th of December, was retained
as the chief of the Philippine National Police.
(Kathrina Alvarez/Sunnex)

21. Presidential Peace Adviser - Teresita Deles

Deles was also among the 10 Cabinet and senior

government officials who withdrew their support from
Arroyo during the height of the "Hello, Garci" scandal.

22. Presidential Management Staff - Julia Abad

Julia is the daughter of Florencio "Butch" Abad,

campaign manager of Noynoy. She is also Noynoy's
Chief of Staff and member of the transition team.

"She has my absolute trust having run my office. If I

have been able to do anything within the Senate it is
because of her I think she possesses 80 percent of
the brain I am holding," P-Noy said of the younger
Abad.

23. Presidential Spokesman - Edwin Lacierda

Lacierda is a long-time friend and legal counsel of P-

Noy.

On his first day of duty, Lacierda apologized to

members of the media for making them wait three
hours for a press conference.

24. Presidential Legal Counsel - Eduardo de Mesa

De Mesa is one of the first lawyers of P-Noy in 1998.

25. Chairman, Commission on Higher Education -

Patricia Licuanan

Licuanan is the current president of Miriam College in

Quezon City.

“She will now refocus Commission on Higher

Education, that it serves the interest of the people
rather than institutions that have no right to set up