GMA retains Lina at DILG

President Arroyo decided yesterday to keep Interior and Local Government Secretary Jose Lina at his present post instead of appointing him to take over the trade and industry portfolio.

Mrs. Arroyo had earlier announced Lina would be moved to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to replace Secretary Manuel Roxas II, who would be moved to the Department of Finance.

Roxas is supposed to fill the post to be vacated by Finance Secretary Alberto Romulo when he replaces Executive Secretary Renato de Villa who underwent heart bypass surgery.

Presidential Spokesman Rigoberto Tiglao said the President did not specify why she decided to keep Lina in the DILG after she announced that she would shift the government’s trade and industry tack from big industries to small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

The President had earlier said Lina is suited for the DTI portfolio because of his success in developing SMEs in Laguna while he was governor.

Mrs. Arroyo wants Roxas to take over the finance department partly because he has had substantial background as an investment banker in New York.

But Roxas is also having problems in divesting some properties and would need more time to settle them, according to Tiglao.

In an interview with Radio Mindanao Network, Mrs. Arroyo has not discounted the possibility that Roxas’ divestment problems may prevent him from taking over the finance portfolio.

"We will decide that over the weekend. I will think over the alternatives if this would become too difficult for Mar," she said.

The President has given Roxas until Monday to settle his divestment problems in time for the return of Romulo from the board meeting of the Asian Development Bank in Hawaii.

"Bert (Romulo) really has no choice. I forced him to become Executive Secretary," the President said.

Mrs. Arroyo had said Romulo, Roxas and Lina are "three good soldiers" who would be ready to accept any new assignment.

"All three of them would rather stay in their respective positions because they do not want the new positions. But all of the three of them are very good soldiers," she said. — Marichu Villanueva