Ochoa: Government dealing with high expectations

MANILA, Philippines – Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. admitted he and other Cabinet officials were pressed to give it their best shot everyday because of the high expectations of the people for the new government and their commitment to always be transparent.

Even those close to President Aquino, some of them his long-time friends, are all aware they serve at the pleasure of the Chief Executive and can be replaced anytime, Ochoa said.

He added no one could afford to be abusive or arrogant when the President himself has remained simple and focused on his commitment to serve the public.

Ochoa said unlike when he first joined government as Quezon City administrator, now there was no way he could “practice” first before making decisions as the “Little President.”

“The moment I entered, right away, it’s game from the first day. You really have to bring out everything that you know and everyday you have to be good because all of our countrymen’s eyes are on us. You also cannot make any cover up because the administration believes in transparency. We are very transparent in everything,” Ochoa said in an interview in Studio 23’s newscast “iBA-BALITA.”

He said he had much respect for Sen. Joker Arroyo, who was the executive secretary of Aquino’s mother, former President Corazon Aquino, but refuted the lawmaker’s criticism that the new government was operating like a student council.

“Sen. Arroyo is a good lawyer and he had been in this position. Maybe he can give us some time because right now he sees us as a student council, but let me assure the public that we are not. We all make sure we perform well and we never take this for granted,” Ochoa said.

“Everything that we have to study, we study. We can say that we are relatively new but that is the very reason why we study more.”

The executive secretary also said all of them in the Cabinet know they would have to perform well or Aquino would say goodbye to them.

“I know that my stint will depend on my performance because we serve at the pleasure of the President. So therefore, if there will come a time that he will no longer need my services, that will be the end of my tenure,” Ochoa said.

He said like any boss, the President would call their attention if what they presented was not good enough.

He said he was happy that the President has remained ordinary and simple, describing these as the best traits of Mr. Aquino.

Ochoa said he could see that the President was determined to keep that simplicity, especially now that he is the most powerful man in the country.

Ochoa said like other government officials, he would now have to live with his P45,000 monthly salary.

He also denied rumors that he was dating celebrities like Pops Fernandez and Vina Morales, but admitted having met them.

Aurea Calica, Philippine Star