MANILA, Philippines (UPDATE 2) - Malacañang confirmed Thursday that Senators Panfilo Lacson and Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan will be joining President Aquino's Cabinet.
Asked on ANC if the appointments are already sure, Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda nodded and said: "They have been very supportive of the bills of the President sa Senado so we certainly welcome them."
He also said the Palace knows that the 2 senators will be ending their terms in the Senate by next year.
"We certainly knew that Senators Pangilinan and Lacson will end their term in 2013. Are there any positions that are going to be offered to them? The President is keeping it close to his chest," he told reporters.
Lacierda said he has yet to speak to the President about which positions the 2 senators will take over after their terms expire next year.
Asked if Pangilinan will be appointed as agriculture secretary vice Proceso Alcala, he said: "Hindi pa napag-uusapan yun."
He refused to say if Lacson will be appointed Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary but confirmed that DILG chief Jesse Robredo has not been confirmed yet.
"I will not divine the thoughts of the President until he has spoken. We have not discussed that yet, actually," he said.
Meanwhile, Pangilinan thanked the President for the vote of confidence for choosing him to be part of the Cabinet in 2013.
"I am thankful for the vote of confidence expressed by PNoy and I leave it to the President to decide where he believes I can be of help in his administration’s reform agenda," he said.