Domingo resignation won’t derail hosting of APEC summit – Palace

The resignation of Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Gregory Domingo will not derail the country’s hosting of this year’s Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, a Palace official assured yesterday.

Presidential Communications Operations Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. maintained that all hands are on deck to ensure the successful conduct of the APEC meetings, that will culminate in the leaders’ summit this November.

“Secretaries (Cesar) Purisima, Domingo, (Arsenio) Balisacan, and all members of the Cabinet’s economic cluster are working as a unified and cohesive team together with Executive Secretary (Paquito) Ochoa and the national organizing committee to make our APEC hosting a big success,” Coloma said in a text

message to reporters.

Last Saturday, Domingo tendered his resignation letter to President Aquino in the middle of the APEC meetings hosted by the country.

Coloma said Domingo’s resignation remains under consideration and that Ochoa was still waiting for the President’s action on the matter.

The Palace officials, however, are still unaware about the reason behind the resignation of Domingo from the Aquino Cabinet and there was no official word yet on his replacement in the DTI.

“I haven’t read the resignation letter yet so I will not speculate,” Deputy Presidential Spokeswoman Abigail Valte said.

Valte also expressed confidence that Domingo’s departure will not adversely affect the government’s preparations n the APEC meetings.

“Secretary Domingo has a very capable team in DTI that handles trade-related matters in APEC. Also, the APEC NOC, which is in charge of the logistical, security and other related preparations for the hosting are wellequipped to handle developments like this,” she added.

Domingo was appointed trade secretary by President Aquino in 2010.

He was part of the President’s Cabinet economic cluster widely credited for implementing prudent fiscal management that led to strong economic growth and positive credit rating actions.