PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered Deputy Executive Secretary for Finance and Administration Susanna Vargas to oversee the financial and administrative functions of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (Opapp).

Arroyo in issuing Administrative Order No. 272 said as President she has the authority to reorganize agencies that are under her office's administrative control or supervision like the Opapp.

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This stemmed from Section 31, Chapter 10, Book III of the Administrative Code of 1987.

"The Finance and administrative services of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process shall be undertaken directly by the Office of the Deputy Executive Secretary for Finance and Administration of the Office of the President," she said.

As this developed, Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said the President will name the new chairman of the Dangerous Drug Board (DDB) either on the last week of November or first week of December.

Remonde declined to hint who will replace DDB chairman Vicente Sotto III who resigned to run for senator in 2010, simply describing the appointee as someone popular.

He only said that for the moment DDB deputy chairman Clarence Paul Oaminal will be the officer-in-charge.

The Search Committee is likewise vetting possible replacement for former Civil Service Commission (CSC) chair Ricardo Saludo who was named secretariat head of the Public-Private Reconstruction Commission.

Saludo left the CSC after failing to pass the Commission on Appointments.

Remonde decline to say who among the Cabinet members are expected to step down to pursue their political bid in 2010.

"We will make the announcements at the appropriate time," he said, adding that the Cabinet would still be meeting on Tuesday in Boracay.

The meeting will tackle the report of the Public-Private sector Reconstruction Commission on the status of the rehabilitation and reconstruction activities.

The National Economic and Development Authority would also report to the Cabinet about the global resiliency economic programs while Presidential Management Staff director general Hermogenes Esperon Jr. would presents the Pro-Performance Steering Committee report on the status of the state of nation address projects.

Several Cabinet officials are expected to quit before December 1 to file their certificates of candidacy and prepare for the May 2010 elections.

Among those reportedly planning to run are Secretaries Arthur Yap (Agriculture), Ace Durano (Tourism), Augusto Syjuco (Technical Education and Skill Development Authority) and Esperon to run for the congressional seats in Bohol, Cebu, Negros Occidental and Pangasinan, respectively.

The others are Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes and Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Raul Gonzales for the mayoralty posts in Taguig and Iloilo, and Metropolitan Manila chairman Bayani Fernando to run for president.

Also rumored to be considering elective positions are Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita and Agrarian Reform secretary Nasser Pangandman for the congressional seat in Batangas and Marawi.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III and Secretary to the Cabinet Silvestre Bello III are both yet to make up their minds if they would run for senator. Bello is also reported to be considering the congressional seat in Isabela.

Former Cabinet members Gilberto Teodoro Jr. (defense) and Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. (public works) had earlier quit to enter the presidential race.

Former planning secretary Ralph Recto and former Optical Media Board chair Edu Manzano also resigned to run for senator and vice president, respectively. (JMR/Sunnex)