MANILA - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo yesterday reshuffled her cabinet after Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla resigned, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said yesterday.

Lotilla was replaced by Environment Secretary Angelo Reyes, who in turn will be succeeded by former Manila Mayor Joselito Atienza at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Lotilla said in his resignation letter that he wanted a new job outside the government.

"I want to regain my intellectual appetite. There is not enough time to think in depth coming from one issue to another," he said.

Lotilla expressed confidence that, despite his resignation, the government would pursue the sell-off of state assets in the power utility sector.

Reyes, for his part, said the position is a welcome challenge. "I will do my best in serving the government," he said.

Lotilla earlier said he quit his post after 23 tiring years in government and that he wanted to pursue a more intelligent job.

"I have served government for the last 23 years. I haven't known work outside of government," he added.

Arroyo earlier announced the appointment of former Justice Secretary Silvestre Bello III as her new adviser for new government centers.

Other appointees were Ian Dato as assistant secretary at the Office of Political Affairs; Isabel Pangandaman-Ortiguerra as commissioner of the National Labor Relations Commission representing the workers' sector; Benedicto Palacol as presiding commissioner of the NLRC representing the public sector, and Eugene Insigne as chairman and commissioner of the National Commission on Indigenous People.*AFP/PNA

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