MANILA, Philippines - De La Salle University president and chancellor Brother Armin Luistro has accepted the post of education secretary of incoming President Benigno Aquino III.
A statement released by De La Salle on Wednesday said Luistro arrived at the decision after consulting with the university's stakeholders.
"After due consultation with various stakeholders in the Lasallian community, President and Chancellor Br. Armin Luistro FSC has accepted the invitation of President-elect Benigno C. Aquino III to be the Department of Education Secretary," the statement read,
Luistro is among those who called for President Arroyo's resignation in 2005 after she was accused of rigging the 2004 presidential election.
Incoming Executive Secretary Jojo Ochoa earlier said the entire Aquino Cabinet will be known before the weekend.
Among those widely believed to have already been chosen are:
- Aquino campaign manager Florencio "Butch" Abad as budget secretary;
- Makati Business Club president Alberto Lim as tourism secretary;
- Leila de Lima as justice secretary;
- President Cory Aquino’s former Presidential Security Guard chief Voltaire Gazmin as defense secretary;
- Cesar Purisima as finance secretary;
- Guillermo Parayno as Bureau of Customs chief;
- Kim Henares as Bureau of Internal Revenue commissioner;
- former Nestle CEO Johnny Santos as Philippine ambassador to the US;
- Manila Water Corp.'s Jose Rene Almendras as energy secretary; and,
- Jaime Aristotle Alip as agriculture secretary.
Aquino is also expected to retain Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo for a year, while Horacio Ramos and Greg Domingo are expected to be one-year benchwarmers in the environment and trade departments.
Aquino's running mate, Sen. Mar Roxas, and former Bukidnon Rep. Nereus Acosta are expected to take over the two positions once the one-year appointment ban on losing election candidates lapses.
A source in the Aquino camp, meanwhile said Aquino is eyeing Maynilad Water Services president Rogelio "Babes" L. Singson as secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways and former Health Secretary Jaime Galvez Tan as secretary of the Department of Health. Report from ANC