 In 1992, he ran for senator under the Lakas-NUCD but lost.During the administration of Fidel Ramos, he would first serve as Senior Deputy Executive Secretary in 1993, then, acting executive secretary in 1994.He also became the officer-in-charge of the Office of the Executive Secretary in September 1995, before being appointed as Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment from 1996 to January 1998.