Friday, June 20, 2008 Arroyo nixes lawmaker's man as CDC president
CLARK FREEPORT -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has turned down the nominee of Pampanga first district Representative Carmelo Lazatin as successor to outgoing Clark Development Corporation (CDC) president Levy Laus.
Lazatin, according to a Malacañang source, recommended lawyer Frankie Villanueva, former chairman of the Clark Investors and Locators Association (Cila) for the CDC chief post, which will be vacated by Laus on July 31.
"I cannot appoint him (Villanueva) because I don't even know him," Arroyo reportedly told Lazatin.
Arroyo already has a shortlist of possible replacements for Laus who expressed his desire to relinquish his post in a letter last month.
The CDC president had indicated that he wanted to go back to his business and corporate life.
The President has expressed regrets over Laus's decision, according to Secretary Cerge Remonde of the Presidential Management Staff.
"The President recognizes Laus not only as a valuable and irreplaceable ally, but as a close personal friend," Remonde said. "The President also realizes the challenge of replacing Laus at CDC given his substantial achievements during his tenure," he said.
This was seconded by deputy presidential spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo, who said it will be hard for the President to find an equally competent successor to Laus.
Laus said he was being offered a couple of positions in government, one of them as head of a national agency.
"I will seriously consider the offers," Laus said.
Among those being considered to succeed Laus at CDC are CDC director Benigno Ricafort and architect Nestor Mangio, chairman of the Clark International Airport Corporation (Ciac).
