Marcos leaves for US; Sara, Bersamin, Estrella designated caretakers

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin and Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III have been designated as the country’s caretakers while President Marcos is attending a trilateral summit with the US and Japan in Washington this week.

“VP Sara is chair. She is being assisted by ES (Bersamin) and Sec. Estrella. It’s always been that way,” Presidential Communications Office Secretary Cheloy Garafil said in a text message to reporters.

The three officials were also named as caretakers of the government when Marcos attended the 42nd Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit in Indonesia in May last year.

There were times when Duterte was the sole caretaker of the government in some of Marcos’ overseas visits.

In his departure message yesterday, Marcos said his meeting with US President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is aimed at advancing trilateral cooperation among the three countries.

The President said he would particularly underscore the importance of enhancing the economic cooperation of the Philippines with Japan and the US “with a view to promoting economic resilience and security.”

“I intend to explore ways of advancing cooperation, especially in the areas of critical infrastructure, semiconductors, digitalization and cybersecurity, critical minerals, renewable energy, as well as defense and maritime cooperation,” Marcos said.

“It is my intention also to exchange views with my US and Japanese counterparts on various regional security issues of mutual concern, while continuing to reiterate the importance of upholding the rule of law and preserving the rules-based international order in the Indo-Pacific region,” he added.

On the sidelines of the trilateral summit, the President will have a bilateral meeting with Biden, where they will continue the discussions on strengthening further the alliance between the Philippines and the US.

Marcos will also meet with business leaders in the US to invite them to invest in the Philippines.