With all the skills he could bring to the table, Malacañang said unsuccessful 2010 vice-presidential candidate former Senator Manuel “Mar” Roxas II will be the government’s troubleshooter.

Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte issued the statement on Saturday in reaction to criticisms from some sectors that Roxas would just be a “troublemaker” and not the “troubleshooter” that President Benigno S. Aquino wants him to be if he is appointed to a Cabinet post once the appointment ban on losing poll bets ends in the middle of the year.

“It is unfair to label him (Roxas) as a troublemaker because his track record would show that he is not a troublemaker. He has proven himself to be an expert in many aspects so it is not right to label him a troublemaker,” Valte told government radio DZRB in an interview Saturday, speaking in mix English and Filipino.

Last Friday, President Aquino said he is eyeing his former running mate in the Liberal Party as “one of his chief troubleshooters.”

“I will be tapping his expertise in so many aspects. He might be one of the ‘chief troubleshooters’ if there is something that needs more intense attention. I might ask him to do that if he is willing,” said the President when asked if he plans to appoint Roxas to any government position during the traditional New Year’s toast for diplomats, senior government officials, and business leaders in Malacañang.

Valte said Roxas, a former New York-based banker and a Trade Secretary, would be a big help to the Aquino administration considering that he pushed for the same platforms as Aquino’s during the May, 2010 polls.

She clarified though that for now it is still unclear what Roxas’ official designation would be, though reports said the former senator who lost the vice presidential race to former Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay is being groomed to replace Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. who has been receiving intense flak from critics for some questionable legal moves.

“We don’t know yet what would be his official designation but it is not in the context that would affect Executive Secretary Ochoa,” Valte said when asked if Roxas would become the so-called “Little President” as the Executive Secretary usually serves as the “troubleshooter” in the Cabinet.

At present, Roxas has no official assignment under the administration, but is deemed a senior adviser of the President.

Roxas’ name has been dragged in the supposed Malacañang factions – those who supported him and Aquino (Noy-Mar) in the May, 2010 polls on one side and those who supported Aquino and Binay (Noy-Bi) on the other side.

The Aquino-Binay supporters held office in a mansion on Samar Street in South Triangle, Quezon City while the Aquino-Roxas supporters were based in the Balay, the Aquino-Roxas campaign headquarters in Cubao, Quezon City.

Interestingly, the person supposed to be the most prominent of the Aquino-Binay supporters or the so-called “Samar” group is Ochoa.

JC Bello Ruiz, Manila Bulletin