Mar Roxas as Executive Secretary in 2011

There are talks about the possible appointment of former Senator and campaign buddy Mar Roxas as Executive secretary of President Benigno Noynoy Aquino. Other appointments, says several sources, include members of the Balai group. 


Roxas wants the Executive secretary post. He does not want to re-assume his post as Secretary of Trade and Industry.


Jose Almendras, the current Energy secretary and rumored as Ochoa's replacement instead of Roxas, stays with the Energy department. 


Several sources within Roxas camp are against the former Senator's decision. There are, however, several business groups who want Roxas as Executive secretary. 


Other Liberal candidates, including Riza Hontiveros, will be given highly sensitive posts in the Aquino administration come 2011. Hontiveros is being groomed to take care of Tourism and/or overseas Filipino workers. 


Dr. Nereus Acosta is preparing to assume the DENR post. Fact is, Nereus has prepared a set of his close associates to accompany him to the DENR.


Executive secretary Paquito Ochoa will be given a Cabinet portfolio. He is bound to lead a government agency close to the Office of the President. The current legal counsel of Aquino, a close Ochoa associate, will also be replaced. 


There are talks of Ochoa assuming the DOJ role, replacing Leila de Lima, who was rumored as the strongest candidate for the COMELEC chairmanship.


De Lima, according to sources, has quietly refused the chairmanship. De Lima's decision muddled the original plan, since there was a plan for Ochoa to replace De Lima there. Ochoa, says some sources, is expected to occupy a post which has "lesser implications". 


Aquino is scouting for a reputable "Constitutionalist" and/or "election lawyer" to assume the COMELEC chairmanship. There is, however, several talk of a Comelec commissioner being asked to chair the electoral body. This is none other than Comelec Commissioner Rene Sarmiento. 


The DILG post will be given to a former general, while former Naga and Ramon Magsaysay awardee Robredo will be ousted from his post and given a more "non-controversial" one.


Other news include the possible integration of a political party headed by close Arroyo ally Pablo Garcia with the Liberal party. This regional aggrupation supported the legislative agenda of Speaker Sonny Belmonte. Garcia's inclusion in the administration party will make the Liberal, the strongest political party in the country.


How true?