PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos reappointed on Tuesday some of the members of his Cabinet who were bypassed by the Commission on Appointments (CA).
Last week, the CA failed to confirm the appointments of 15 Cabinet officials for lack of time. Congress went on a scheduled five-week recess until November 7.
Of the ad-interim officials, 10 were given a renewed mandate by Marcos.
They include Department of Finance (DOF) Secretary Benjamin Estoista Diokno, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Manligas Bonoan, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Alfredo Espinosa Pascual, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Erwin Teshiba Tulfo.
Also reappointed were Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Jaime Jimenez Bautista, Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Renato Umali Solidum Jr., Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Raphael Perpetuo Mercado Lotilla, Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Maria Susana Vasquez Ople, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio Molina Balisacan, and Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Secretary Jose Rizalino Larion Acuzar.
During the oath taking, Marcos also appointed Lucas Purugganan Bersamin as his new Executive Secretary.
The five officials who were bypassed by the CA, but have yet to be reappointed by Marcos, are Press Secretary Beatrix “Trixie” Cruz-Angeles, Department of Information and Communication (DICT) Secretary Ivan John Uy, Commission on Audit (COA) Chairman Jose Calida, Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Nelson Celis, and former Executive Secretary Victor D. Rodriguez as Presidential Chief of Staff (PCS).
The oath-taking ceremony of the 10 reappointed officials was held in Malacañang and was followed by a Cabinet meeting.
Image credits: Robinson Niñal/Office of the Press Secretary