Cabinet men bid farewell to staff

MANILA, Philippines - Two of President Arroyo’s Cabinet men – outgoing Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno and outgoing Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales – bade their staff farewell yesterday, citing the gains achieved by their respective departments under their watch.

Puno said he is leaving the Department of the Interior and Local Government in “good shape” after his four-year stint as head of the agency.

He thanked his fellow officials and employees for “the four most productive years” of his career and said he is now ready to embark on his new life as a private citizen starting June 30.

Gonzales, meantime, declared that he still wants to serve the government but not under the administration of president-elect Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III.

Although no official announcement has been made by Aquino, Puno’s replacement is reportedly Naga City Mayor Jesse Robredo, who has a good track record in public service.

Puno, who was appointed by President Arroyo as DILG secretary in 2006, said whoever takes over his post under the new administration will “find that the department is in good shape” because of the initiatives it has undertaken during his watch – strengthening local governance, maintaining peace and order and enhancing public safety.

Puno told DILG employees that the capacity building programs for local government units and the groundbreaking projects to boost the capability of the Philippine National Police and other attached agencies of the DILG would not have been possible without their cooperation, hard work and perseverance.

“Once again, thank you to all of you. Thank you for the great experience,” Puno said during a thanksgiving get-together organized in his honor by DILG officials and employees at the Camp Crame Multipurpose Center in Quezon City.

Puno started his career in government service at the DILG 36 years ago as one of its youngest assistant secretaries. He also served as its undersecretary and later, secretary during the Estrada administration.

Meantime, Undersecretaries Marius Corpus and Austere Panadero; National Police Commission vice chairman Ed Escueta and PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa thanked Puno, recalling how he had competently steered the DILG through its most difficult challenges and inspired its men and women to work harder in serving their fellow Filipinos.   – Cecille Suerte Felipe, Jaime Laude, Rainier Allan Ronda