The camp of President-elect Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. is looking for the most competent and qualified officials for the Cabinet positions of the incoming administration.
Vic Rodriguez, chief of staff and spokesperson of Marcos, announced, “Apart from being competent, qualified and love of country, those recognizing the flag of the Republic of the Philippines, those respecting the Constitution and not calling for the downfall of the government,” said Rodriguez.
Earlier, Marcos announced the nomination of his running mate, incoming Vice -President Inday Sara Duterte-Carpio as the secretary of Department of Education (DepEd). Duterte immediately accepted the offer.
Also last Friday, Rodriguez announced the appointment of former MMDA Chair Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. as the new Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) secretary.
Rodriguez, was assigned by Marcos to lead the transition team for UniTeam, along with former Davao del Norte Rep. Anton Lagdameo, former Manila Rep. Naida Angping and South Cotabato Gov. Jun Tamayo.
“I would like to announce that Chairman Benhur Abalos has been nominated to the Department of Interior and Local Government and he has accepted the challenge,” Rodriguez declared.
Rodriguez also denied several names that surfaced in the social media reportedly appointed in other Cabinet positions.
“We will give you updates from time to time as soon as there are names that I can announce for the other positions,” Rodriguez said.
“We only have two names that we have announced so far, that is Vice President-elect Inday Sara Duterte-Duterte for the Department of Education and just now I’m announcing the nomination of Chairman Benhur Abalos to the Department of Interior and Local Government,” he added.
Rodriguez also assured that all applicants for different positions will undergo thorough vetting to make sure that they are in line with the president-elect’s program of government.
During the campaign, Duterte-Carpio said she told the public that political colors should be set aside after elections.
The tabulation showed that Marcos had 31.1 million votes, while Vice-president Leni Robredo had 14.8 million.
Duterte-Carpio had 35.5 million against Senate President Vicente Sotto lll’s 9.2 million.
She urged, “Tayo na po ang mauna na lumapit sa mga nakatunggali na supporters ng mga natalong kandidato. Tayo na po ang magpakumbaba dahil tayo ang panalo. We have to be magnanimous because we are only 31.5 million (voters). We need them so that we can be 100 percent one nation,” she said.
