MANILA – Malacañang on Wednesday released the appointment papers of three Cabinet officials, including new Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Teodoro Lopez Locsin Jr.
President Rodrigo Duterte signed the appointment papers of Locsin and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rolando Joselito Delizo Bautista on Wednesday (Oct. 17).
Locsin, the country’s representative to the United Nations, replaced Alan Peter Cayetano who stepped down to run for Taguig City representative in the 2019 mid-term polls.
Locsin served as presidential legal counsel and speechwriter of former President Corazon Aquino.
Bautista, on the other hand, replaced Undersecretary Virginia N. Orogo who served as acting DSWD secretary after the Commission on Appointment (CA) rejected the ad interim appointment of Judy Taguiwalo in August last year.
Bautista, former commanding general of the Philippine Army, reached his military mandatory retirement age of 56 on October 15. He was replaced by Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) Maj. Gen. Macairog Alberto.
Malacañang also released the appointment paper of Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chairman Prospero “Popoy” de Vera III.
De Vera, whose appointment paper was signed by Duterte on Oct. 13, will serve until July 2022.
He served as CHED officer-in-charge since January 24 this year after Patricia Licuanan stepped down over alleged unauthorized foreign trips.
The Palace is expected to release more appointments in the coming days after some government officials decided to run for next year’s elections.
Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Secretary Christopher ‘Bong’ Go filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) for senator while Cabinet Secretary Leoncio ‘Jun’ Evasco Jr. will run for governor of Bohol.
Former Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque filed his COC for senator. He was replaced by Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo.
Presidential political adviser Francis Tolentino and Bureau of Corrections chief Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa also tossed their hat in the senatorial race. (Jelly Musico/PNA)
