Palace: No legal hurdle stopping possible Duterte appointment to Marcos Cabinet
MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang said Friday that there is no legal impediment stopping President Rodrigo Duterte from taking a Cabinet position under the incoming administration of president-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
At a press briefing Friday afternoon, acting deputy presidential spokesperson Kris Ablan said that the president can still take a post as a drug czar under the Marcos administration.
To recall, the incoming president-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Thursday that the door is open for Duterte to claim a Cabinet seat "if he wants to." He added that he was "certainly open" to the idea of tapping Duterte, particularly as a drug czar.
"When it comes to that, there is no legal impediment for a former president to assume an executive position in the executive branch. Actually, he can also run, just not for the presidency again," he said in mixed Filipino and English.
But will President Duterte actually take Marcos up on his offer?
"Whether President Duterte will take the offer, that's up to him. As far as we know, the President is looking forward to his retirement," he said. "But it's welcome news, because the president has already said that the fight versus drugs needs to continue."
Rights groups both here and abroad say the death toll of the administration's bloody anti-drug campaign may be as high as 30,000 deaths since Duterte's "war" began in 2016. However, consolidated numbers from the Philippine National Police, Dangerous Drugs Board, and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency only acknowledge 6,241 of these as of March 31.
It was under Duterte's term that the late ousted dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. was buried in the Libingan ng mga Bayani. But during the campaign season, Duterte also called Marcos a "spoiled brat" and a "weak leader" despite the latter running alongside his daughter.
"We are long-time friends, even when he is still mayor of Davao City. I’m sure that if he wants to play a part, he will tell me," Marcos Jr. also said of Duterte the day before. — Franco Luna
Follow this thread for appointments made by presumptive president-elect Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.
— Main photo: AFP/Ron Lopez
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. issues a statement ordering the suspension of Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Chairman Teofilo Guadiz III amid reports of alleged corruption under his leadership.
"The President does not tolerate any misconduct in his administration and has instructed the immediate investigation of this matter. He strongly condemns dishonesty and duplicity in public service," the statement reads. — Rosette Adel
The Presidential Communications Office announces that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. appointed Benito Techico and Maynard Ngu as special envoy of the president for a trade, investments and tourism in People's Republic of China.
The Department of Transportation welcomes its newly-appointed officials, following the approval of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista swears into office Felicisimo De La Cruz Pangilinan Jr. as Director III for DOTr, Julius Garcia Neri Jr. as Acting General Manager and Chief Executive Officer and Member of Board of Directors for Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA); and Gualberto Nombre Gualberto, Eduardo Cayanong Montealto Jr., and Richard Zayco Osmeña as Director II for the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has named Army Commanding General Lieutenant General Romeo Brawner as the next Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Brawner will succeed General Andres Centino, who will be appointed Presidential Adviser on the West Philippine Sea, according to a statement by the Presidential Communications Office. —Alexis Romero
President Marcos appoints controversial lawyer Lorenzo “Larry” Gadon as presidential adviser for poverty alleviation.
Presidential Communications Sec. Cheloy Garafil says Gadon's appointment "reflects the government's commitment to address one of the most pressing challenges faced by our nation." —Alexis Romero
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