Cabinet rift leads to Philippine defense secretary's exit

Presidential Chief of Staff Mike Defensor confirmed Monday that tensions between Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz and other Cabinet members led to Cruz's resignation over the weekend.

Defensor said he talked to Cruz before the defense chief submitted his resignation to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Sunday.

"He mentioned that he couldn't take it anymore. It could be that he decided that he didn't want to be part of the Cabinet anymore because of all the trouble that's been happening lately," he said.

Asked if the disagreements over the people's initiative, which Cruz had publicly declared "legally doomed," had anything to do with Cruz's resignation, Defensor said: "I think so .. he also believes his decision will be best for everybody."

Earlier reports said that Cruz has been pessimistic over the agenda of constitutional reform, which is being pushed by President Arroyo and most of her cabinet members.

Last week, Cruz claimed that three cabinet secretaries wanted him out of Arroyo's official family, after he publicly assailed the people's initiative, which was declared illegal by the Supreme Court.

Cruz submitted his resignation after meeting with President Arroyo for 45 minutes at Presidential Palace's Music Room on Sunday. "I felt it was time to go," he told reporters after the meeting. But he did not specify any reason for leaving.

Cruz's resignation, which will take effect on Nov. 30, drew mixed reactions on Monday.

Opposition senator Aquilino Pimentel said Cruz's resignation is a sign of the growing rift inside the Arroyo Cabinet. "Like Humpty Dumpty, all her obsequious men can't put it together again," he said.

Cavite Representative Gilbert Remulla said Cruz's "vocal opposition" against Charter change moves "showed the first visible cracks in GMA (Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo)'s administration since the Hyatt 10 resigned en masse."

The Hyatt 10 is a group of top government officials who resigned at the height of resignation calls against Mrs. Arroyo last year.

"The administration will have a difficult time influencing the outcome of the 2007 elections. With him out of the way, the administration's cheating machine may be well-oiled once again," he said.

Armed Forces spokesman Jose Angel Honrado said they have yet to receive information regarding the reason for Cruz's resignation. He said the military will have to wait for the President to make an announcement before making statements on the issue.

Honrado admitted, however, that several military officials were saddened by Cruz's resignation. He added that military officials are hoping that Cruz's replacement will continue reforms in the country's armed forces.

Formerly Arroyo's chief legal counsel, Cruz took over the defense portfolio on Aug. 25, 2004.

Source: Xinhua