BY JOCELYN MONTEMAYOR

EXECUTIVE Secretary Eduardo Ermita yesterday said reports of changes in President Arroyo’s economic team are part of destabilization moves.

Ermita said there is no plan to replace Finance Secretary Margarito Teves, as reported.

"The Cabinet of President Arroyo remains unified, solid and intact," he said.

Reports said Teves was set to be replaced by former senator Ralph Recto who has been acknowledged by Arroyo several times for sponsoring the law on expanded value-added tax.

Ermita noted the one-year ban on appointing losing candidates would lapse only in May. Recto sought re-election last year under the administration slate.

He said the President remains "very much satisfied" with the performance of Teves and the other members of the economic team.

The other key members of the economic team are Secretaries Peter Favila (trade), Rolando Andaya (budget), Angelo Reyes (energy), and Augusto Santos, head of the National Economic Development Authority.

Ermita said with the good economic performance of the country under Arroyo’s government, it is only natural that some of the President’s critics would try to hit her through her economic team.

"It’s very important that we maintain our economic policies, fiscal policies, sustained. And who will do this? Members of the economic team," he said.

Ermita expressed confidence Teves and other Cabinet members would finally pass the Commission on Appointments. He said Teves’ appointment is scheduled to be tackled by the CA next week.

President Arroyo appointed former Angono, Rizal mayor Gerardo Calderon as DENR assistant secretary.

Calderon was Angono mayor for nine years, or three consecutive terms.