DEFENSE Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said Saturday that his last day of work for the Arroyo administration will be next Sunday, November 15.

He made the announcement at an ambush interview shortly before a speaking engagement in Baguio City.

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Teodoro is the standard bearer of ruling party Lakas-Kampi-CMD for president. His running mate is yet to be known.

He did not name his successor at the Department of National Defense (DND).

But Malacanang, for its part, said it is ready to replace Teodoro as defense secretary.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said they have prepared replacements not only for Teodoro but also for other Cabinet members who may quit because they will run in 2010.

“We have discussed replacements for Teodoro but until the appointment is announced, the decisions are not final. We have discussed the matter and we are ready to replace any Cabinet member who will leave for one reason or another,” Remonde said on government-run dzRB radio.

The Palace has already replaced Cabinet members who resigned from their posts to focus on their political bids.

Among them were Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. (Public Works, replaced with Victor Domingo); Avelino Razon Jr. (presidential peace process adviser, replaced with Annabelle Abaya); Ralph Recto (National Economic and Development Authority, replaced with Augusto Santos); and Eduardo Manzano (Optical Media Board Chairman, replaced with Ronnie Ricketts).

Ebdane is joining the presidential race while Razon is running for Manila mayor. Recto and Manzano are both eyeing senatorial seats.

On the other hand, Secretary Angelo Reyes (energy) is reportedly running for Taguig City mayor, while Jose Atienza Jr. (environment) has the endorsement of pro-life Church groups to run for president.

Remonde, however, indicated that the changes in the Cabinet will be more like musical chairs than an overhaul, saying they will try to get replacements from within the ranks of the Cabinet.

“Changes in the Cabinet will not necessarily mean new faces. It is practical that as much as possible, we get those from the ranks so there will be no need for adjustment,” he said.

The press secretary meanwhile declined to comment on reports that Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno will quit the Cabinet even if he has backed out of the race for vice president.

He said that as late as Friday, Puno was in Mindanao to supervise police operations for the rescue of abducted Irish priest Michael Sinnott.

Puno had accused the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) of abducting Sinnott. The MILF, however, denied the allegation and demanded a retraction.

“So far, I have not heard of it. I cannot confirm those reports of his quitting. As far as I know, he’s still very active in performing his function as Secretary of Interior and Local Government,” Remonde said.

He similarly declined to comment on reports that some Catholic bishops want Atienza to run for president because of his pro-life stance.

Some sectors see Atienza, a political ally of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, as a possible threat to Teodoro as administration candidate. But Atienza is allied with the Liberal Party.

“I don’t want to see any ill motive. Whether we like it or not, Secretary Atienza is one of the more prominent public servants in our country especially before as mayor of Manila,” Remonde said. (JMR/Sunnex)