Bunye made the announcement in his weekly column, "View From the Palace."
"With President Arroyo's express permission, I would like to announce that effective June 22, 2008, I will be joining the Monetary Board," he said.
He said he has discussed the matter with President Arroyo since last year to "fulfill a wish of going back to banking."
He said until June 22, he will continue to be the Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman. He said Arroyo has even asked him to wear a third hat, as acting presidential adviser on political affairs, which is being held by Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno on a concurrent capacity.
"I will be announcing my successor as Press Secretary in the coming days," he said.
He said it's up to President Arroyo to decide whether the same person would hold the two positions of Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesperson or whether it would be handled by two persons.
Bunye said he will continue to serve Arroyo "in any capacity" and that he continues to believe in her ability to govern and achieve her target of a balanced budget before her term ends and a "first world" Philippines by 2020.
"It is indeed an honor and a privilege to serve in the President's team," he said.
Bunye said his banking career was cut short after the 1986 Edsa revolution when then President Corazon Aquino tapped him as OIC mayor of Muntinlupa.
Prior to his entry into politics, Bunye was assistant vice president of the Bank of Philippine Islands in 1983-1986 handling corporate finance and assistant vice president for international operations in the Ayala Investment and Development Corporation in 1980-1983.
As a banker, he said his responsibilities included arranging foreign currency financing for prime Philippine companies in coordination with Offshore Banking Units (OBUs), among them Bankers' Trust, whose country manager at that time was former finance secretary Jose Camacho Jr.
Bunye later became mayor of Muntinlupa City, chairman of the Metro Manila Authority (predecessor of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority), and congressman of Muntinlupa.
Bunye, 63, was appointed Press Secretary in July 16, 2002 and took the additional job of presidential spokesperson in January 20, 2003.
He obtained his degrees of Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Bachelor of Laws from the Ateneo de Manila University. He also holds a Master's Degree in Management from the Asian Institute of Management.
He used to be a reporter of DZMT, the radio station of the old Manila Times, and later, as reporter of the Daily Star. He is married to Dr. Miraflor Oca-Bunye. They have three children. (JMR/Sunnex)
