Duterte names 6 Cabinet secretaries running in 2019

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday disclosed the names of six Cabinet members who might run in next year's elections. 

Duterte said among the officials who are seeking electoral posts are Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Cayetano, presidential spokesman Harry Roque, political affairs adviser Francis Tolentino, Agrarian Reform secretary John Castriciones, presidential aide Christopher Go and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Director General Guiling Mamondiong.

"I'm sure these will be guys running," Duterte told members of the Malacañang Press Corps when asked whether he was expecting a Cabinet revamp because of the 2019 polls. 

Duterte said Cayetano is running for congressman in his district in Taguig. He said he has already identified Cayetano's possible successor. 

"I have a name. He agreed but he did not authorize me to name him," the president said. 

Duterte: Roque 'flip-flopping' on political plans

Duterte also said he believes that Roque will push through with his plan to run for senator. Roque has said he has not yet decided whether to seek an electoral post. 

The president said Roque had been flip-flopping on his political plans.

He said he is considering Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo to become press secretary, a post that would be revived once he issues an executive order reorganizing the Presidential Communications Operations Office.

RELATED: Duterte says Panelo to run revived Office of the Press Secretary

Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, nominally the head of the agency that had reaped criticisms over a series of blunders, previously said Roque was being eyed to become press secretary. 

"It's not my fault. He (Roque) said he is not running. Then he is running. I said I would choose someone else so there would be no paralysis in the functions," Duterte said. 

"I do not know where to place him. I did not wait a minute longer," he added.  

Duterte said Panelo would become press secretary once he revives the office and he finds a new chief legal counsel. He said Andanar would remain as a consultant after the PCOO is replaced by the Office of the Press Secretary.

"He (Andanar) will remain a consultant....They have to reconfigure sa PTV 4. They need to change a lot there perhaps to make it more responsive as sounding board of the Republic of the Philippines," the president said.

'Tolentino a good point person, Go could be friend of the public' 

Duterte heaped praises on Tolentino, a former Metro Manila Development Authority chief, saying he has been efficient as a point person during disasters. 

"He (Tolentino) is a very good administrator...He was always my point man. He was my always my contact sa outside world," the president said. 

Duterte said Go, who sometimes represents him in public engagements, has been a "faithful assistant" who can be a "friend" of the public in the senate. 

Sources said Castriciones is planning to run for senator while Mamondiong is considering running for a local post. 

Duterte also said that he wants a Chinese-Filipino businessman to lead the National Food Authority. Retiring Army chief Lt. Gen. Roland Bautista was initially eyed to become NFA administrator but Duterte later on decided to name him as Social Welfare secretary.