Ang Jeep Ni Erap

by Miguel Reyes Reynaldo

(EXCERPTS...PAGE 42)
The oath-taking of Estrada was witnessed by outgoing President Fidel V. Ramos and former President Corazon C. Aquino.
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo preceded by a few minutes Erap in taking her oath of office as Vice President of the Republic also at the Barasoain Church before Supreme Court Chief Justice Andres Narvasa.
Newly installed President Joseph Marcelo Ejercito Estrada and his First Lady Luisa Ejercito were flown by helicopter straight to the Malacanang grounds, escorted by the Presidential Security Group. Outgoing President Fidel V. Ramos was also flown by helicopter to the Villamor Air Base, and proceeded to his home in the Ayala-Alabang Subdivision where he will now start to return to private life as plain citizen Eddie Ramos.
At 3:00 o'clock in the aftrernoon, President Estrada met the members of his official family in the Malacanang ceremonial hall. As he went out of the music room together with his First Lady, a giant antique chandelier crashed to the floor. Was it a sign of good luck or a dark foreboding for the country's 13th President?
He administered the oaths of office to the members of his Cabinet whom he had previously designated, led by Vice President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. They are the following:

Executive Secretary - Ronaldo Zamora
Finance - Edgardo Espiritu
Defense - Orlando Mercado
Foreign Affairs - Domingo Siason Jr., retained
Justice - Serafin Cuevas
Social Welfare & Development - Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, in a concurrent capacity
Tourism - Gemma Cruz Araneta,
Transportation & Communications – Vicente Rivas
Health - Dr. Felipe Estrella Jr.
Education,Culture&Sports - Brother Andrew Gonzales
Budget - Prof. Benjamen Diokno
Trade & Industry - Jose Pardo
Agrarian Reform - Horacio (Boy) Morales
Labor& Employment - Bienvenido Laguesna
Agriculture - William Dar
Energy – Mario Tiaoqui
Environment & Natural Resources –
Antonio Cerilles
Public Works & Highways- Gregorio Vihilar, retained
Science - William Padolina,
Economic Planning - Felipe Medalla
National Security Adviser - Alexander Aguirre
Chief Legal Counsel - Harriet Demetriou
Press Secretary - Rodolfo Reyes
Immigration & Deportation - Rufos Rodriguez:
Presidential Assistant for Eonomic Affairs - Roberto Aventajado
Presidential Management Staff - Leonora Vasquez de Jesus
Presidential Assistant for Housing - Karina David
Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process - Manuel Yan
Philippine Tourism Authority Manager - Lito Banago
Presidential-Legislative Liason Office Chief - Jose Jaime Policarpio

The President occupied the position of Secretary of the Interior and Local Government in a concurrent capacity because he wanted to control and direct personally the campaign against crime and criminality and graft and corruption. He designated as his Under- secretary Ronaldo Puno.
Immediately after administering the oaths of office to his Cabinet members, he procee-
ded to hold his first Cabinet meeting at the State Dining Hall.
Executive Secretary Ronaldo Zamora read the first memorandum or directive issued by President. Estrada to members of his Cabinet, dubbed "Code of Conduct for Cabinet Officials." Its gist: Work as a team. Speak with one voice. Ensure civility and decency in government service. Be on the lookout for abuses and influence-peddling committed by his relatives and friends. All major policy statements should be cleared with the President to ensure the public of the consistency and reliability of the direction of the administration.

538 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 20, 2016