Palace preparing for Estrada acquittal

Are they starting to chill the champagne bottles already?

The impeachment trial of President Estrada may only be on its sixth day, but the President’s men are already preparing for his acquittal.

Executive Secretary Ronaldo Zamora said this yesterday as he revealed a "post-acquittal" scenario wherein the President would implement sweeping reforms in his administration.

Zamora maintained that the reforms have started with the President himself. The worst crisis to hit the administration has made the Chief Executive come to work early, see less and less of his so-called midnight Cabinet, and be a "hands-on manager" even on economic matters, Zamora said.

"We are expecting President Estrada to be acquitted and after that the post-acquittal scenario is important," Zamora said. "We must be able to show that the government continues to run and operate and that there will be reforms that will be introduced in the system of governance."

Zamora noted that should the President be acquitted, it would give way to a "new beginning" for the Estrada administration.

The historic impeachment trial reached its sixth day yesterday with Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson testifying on the President’s alleged acceptance of millions of pesos from the proceeds of the illegal numbers game jueteng.

Singson, a former drinking and gambling buddy of the President, is considered the most vital witness in the trial that also includes charges of corruption, bribery, betrayal of public trust and grave violations of the Constitution.

Zamora said the President has not taken the impeachment trial sitting down. In fact, he said, the President has began implementing a number of reforms in his administration, starting with the policy on state-run gambling operations.

The executive secretary also said that the impeachment trial has greatly changed the President’s management style. "He’s now a hands-on manager," he said, referring to the President’s serious handling of his Economic Coordinating Council which meets with him every week.

"He really participates. For instance, in our meetings, he now leaves us instructions. This no longer a hands-off attitude about economic issues," he added.

According also to Zamora, the President is now seeing less and less of his "buddies" or members of his so-called "midnight Cabinet" who, in the past, usually join him till the wee hours of the morning in drinking sessions.

"There has been a big change. The rumored midnight Cabinet, you cannot see them anymore," he said.

Zamora revealed that the President now even beats him in coming to office. Before the impeachment controversy, he said he was the first man to report for work at Malacañang Palace every morning.

New Cabinet

Meanwhile, Mr. Estrada said he believes he would eventually be acquitted. And he said he is convinced that "the truth will prevail" in the ongoing Senate proceedings.

The President, in fact, is looking forward to the national elections in May where some members of his Cabinet are planning to run.

Interviewed after the awarding ceremonies of this year’s Ten Outstanding Young Men, Mr. Estrada said he would be replacing those who would be running for senator by next month to allow them to prepare for the elections.

"Definitely we will replace those running for senator," the President said. "That would come in the latter part of this month or early January."

Among those already in the lineup of the President’s party for the Senate race are Zamora and Press Secretary Ricardo "Dong" Puno.

The President, however, urged Filipinos to respect whatever the Senate’s decision will be on his impeachment trial, especially if the verdict would be an acquittal.

"This is the constitutional process and everybody should respect it," he said. "We crafted our Constitution for this reason. All citizens must follow it."

This early, opposition leaders are issuing warnings that protest rallies would worsen should senators, who are serving as jurors in the impeachment trial, acquit the President.

Former Sen. Ernesto Maceda, who is about to relinquish his ambassadorship to Washington, said the Filipino people can rest assured that the government would be better once the verdict of acquittal is reached.

"We will definitely see changes in governance," he said. "I think the President is serious in showing that he deserves to be acquitted."

Zamora to quit Cabinet, run for Congress seat

Executive Secretary Ronaldo Zamora said yesterday he will resign from the Cabinet to run for San Juan congressman.

Zamora told reporters he would like to become the next House speaker, but that he has yet to discuss the matter with the President.

"We have not yet talked about this," he said. "I think we will be doing that next week. This is not being assessed by President Estrada along with several other Cabinet members."

Zamora refused to name the person he had recommended as his replacement and mentioned instead reports that he may either be Agriculture Secretary Edgardo Angara or outgoing Ambassador to Washington Ernesto Maceda.

However, Maceda said over radio station dzRH yesterday that he was not interested in becoming executive secretary and would like to choose from among other Cabinet positions that are expected to become vacant next month.

Maceda said he does not also want to run for the Senate because of his age and that the strain of the position may affect his health.

Maceda said he could be appointed secretary of foreign affairs as Domingo Siazon Jr. is being groomed by the President for a top position in the United Nations.

Seven Cabinet secretaries will reportedly resign next month to prepare for various positions in next May’s congressional and local elections.

They include Press Secretary Ricardo Puno Jr., Interior and Local Government Secretary Alfredo Lim. Metro Manila Development Authority Chairman Jejomar Binay is also expected to resign.

Puno will reportedly run for senator; Lim for mayor of Manila; and Binay for mayor of Makati City.

Puno told reporters yesterday he has recommended to the President that Press Undersecretary Mike Toledo be named in his place.

Mr. Estrada is also scouting for replacements for Science and Technology Secretary Felimon Uriarte Jr. whose resignation takes effect on month’s end; and former Trade and Industry Secretary Manuel Roxas II, who resigned from the Cabinet last Nov. 1.

On another front, Defense Secretary Orlando Mercado said yesterday the Lapian ng Masang Pilipino (LAMP) could still come up with a "credible" and "very strong" line-up for next year’s elections whatever the outcome of President Estrada’s impeachment trial.

"We are optimistic that the coalition will be able to produce a very strong lineup from the local to senatorial posts," he said.

Mercado, who is LAMP president, said it would be a "dangerous generalization" to say that the LAMP coalition cannot come up with a winnable slate.

"Regardless of the impeachment trial’s result, our lineup will be strong," he said. "The people know who are competent and credible candidates. Coalition leaders are in the process of selecting and finalizing lineups in the coming May 2001 elections."

Mercado said his decision to run for the Senate will depend on the "advice" of President Estrada, and that he will remain in the Cabinet if that is the wish of the Chief Executive.

"I will leave (my decision) to the President," he said. "If he feels I’m needed in the Cabinet, then I’ll continue my duties as secretary of defense."

Mercado refused to comment when asked if Mr. Estrada would be allowed to raise the candidates’ hands in case he is found guilty by the Senate impeachment tribunal.

LAMP is comprised of President Estrada’s political party Partido ng Masang Pilipino (PMP), Angara’s Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP), and the National People’s Coalition (NPC) of Ambassador Eduardo Cojuangco. – With reports from Paolo Romero