De Villa sure to get new post in government

Former Executive Secretary Renato de Villa will have a new title attached to his name once he fully recovers from heart surgery.

President Arroyo announced this yesterday after meeting with De Villa in his home Saturday.

The President told a radio program hosted by her husband Jose Miguel Arroyo that De Villa is itching to resume work and that he is fast recovering from the triple heart bypass surgery he had in April.

"His condition has improved and he told me that by July 24, three months after his surgery, he can already play nine-hole golf," the President said.

The President said she had a heavy lunch at De Villa’s home while talking with him. She described De Villa as "impatient" and yearning to get back to where the action is.

"He really wants to work, and he’s getting impatient," she said.

Presidential Spokesman Rigoberto Tiglao said before the weekend that another government post is waiting for De Villa. He did not elaborate.

"It would be a waste if we did not have his talents in government," Tiglao said.

De Villa, a retired military general, was instrumental in Mrs. Arroyo’s rise to the presidency. He was believed to be the one who convinced the military top brass to support Mrs. Arroyo during the famed EDSA II uprising which toppled Joseph Estrada from power early this year.

He underwent heart surgery on April 24 and was temporarily replaced by presidential chief of staff Renato Corona before the President named former finance chief Alberto Romulo to completely take over as executive secretary.

Romulo is expected to assume office tomorrow after a scheduled Cabinet meeting. Energy Secretary Jose Isidro Camacho will be replacing him in the finance department. – Paolo Romero