Science department head tenders resignation

Science and Technology Secretary Filemon Uriarte submitted his resignation yesterday, becoming the third Cabinet member to leave the government since President Estrada was accused of corruption.

In his resignation letter, Uriarte thanked the President for giving him the opportunity to serve in the Cabinet.

"During my short stint as Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), we have been able to set the vision for the science community, launch and implement flagship programs toward the attainment of this vision, and bring the country to the threshold of knowledge economy," he stated in the letter.

Uriarte said he would step down at the end of the month. He recommended as his replacement his undersecretary, Rogelio Panlasigui.

Mr. Estrada, who is fighting to remain in office, took pains to dismiss speculation that Uriarte’s decision to quit was due to the upcoming impeachment trial.

"I asked him to think it over for a few more months and take a vacation," Mr. Estrada told reporters after a Cabinet meeting.

"But this has nothing to do with the prevailing political crisis in my administration," the President said. "He just wants to return to the private sector."

He refused to speak to reporters after leaving the Cabinet meeting. This was actually the second time Uriarte tendered his resignation. Last July, he asked the President to let him return to the private sector. The DOST chief had reportedly been offered a very high-paying job at a multinational firm based in Southeast Asia.

Uriarte, 55, has been in and out of government service in the last few years. He was DOST undersecretary under the Ramos and Aquino administrations.

He is also a member of Couples for Christ, a lay Roman Catholic group that was among the first organizations to call for the President’s resignation on moral grounds.

Uriarte established and headed a branch in Indonesia in 1991 when he worked for the secretariat of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, said Chito Nepomuceno, head of the group’s socio-political ministry.

Nepomuceno said the group did not urge Uriarte to resign, or pressure two other Cabinet officials who are also members of the group – Economic Planning Secretary Felipe Medalla and Energy Secretary Mario Tiaoqui.

"It’s up to their commitment regarding what they feel," he said. "We respect whatever the decision of the member is, but then we continue to promote what we stand for."

Uriarte would be the third member of Mr. Estrada’s official family to ditch him since allegations surfaced early last month that he took bribes from illegal gambling syndicates.

Vice President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo quit her post as social welfare secretary last month and Trade Secretary Manuel Roxas followed her early this month.

Press Secretary Ricardo Puno said yesterday Uriarte’s resignation was not connected to the charges against Mr. Estrada.

"It’s just coincidental that this happened now. He has long wanted to return to the private sector," Puno said in a radio interview.

However, Rep. Dante Liban (LAMP, Quezon City) said the President’s impeachment by the House of Representatives last month "could have had an influence" on Uriarte’s decision to quit.

Liban said Uriarte will have his farewell meeting with his staff today. One of the secretary’s aides said Uriarte went on leave on Nov. 16 "but was due to return on Wednesday to meet with the staff."

The aide said she did not know what would be discussed at the meeting.