MANILA — Despite a number of President Rodrigo Duterte’s Cabinet members expected to seek national and local posts in the upcoming 2019 midterm elections, Malacañang assured Thursday that the President will not run out of appointees.
“The President will not run out of appointees. For every Cabinet official that leaves there’s probably a hundred people interested in one post,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a Palace briefing.
“There will not be a shortage of individuals to fill in the slots of vacancies to be vacated by Cabinet members who are seeking public office,” he added.
On Tuesday, Roque bared that at least six Cabinet members may file their certificates of candidacy (COCs) for the midterm elections.
Roque did not mention names but said there will be three Cabinet officials running for national posts and another three running for local posts.
He, however, said he has yet to speak with the President and make up his mind about joining the senatorial race.
“It’s not proper for a spokesperson to be talking about political plans,” Roque said.
According to the Commission on Elections (Comelec), the deadline for the filing of COCs is on Oct. 11-17.
Roque, Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go, Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs Francis Tolentino, former Communications Assistant Secretary Margaux “Mocha” Uson were among those rumored to seek for a national post. (Azer Parrocha/PNA)
