President-elect Rodrigo R. Duterte (davaotoday.com file photo by Ace R. Morandante)
DAVAO CITY — President-elect Rodrigo Duterte skipped the proclamation of the winners of the Presidential elections Monday, May 30 as his spokesperson said he is busy finalizing the names of his cabinet appointees.
“He’s busy finishing the completion of his Cabinet,” said Duterte’s spokesperson Atty. Salvador Panelo, in a television interview on Monday, May 30.
Panelo said Duterte will be calling for a press conference Tuesday afternoon, May 31 to announce more names of cabinet members.
Duterte, was reportedly in Carmen, Surigao del Sur attending to other duties.
The President-elect on Saturday has announced that he will not attend Monday’s proclamation.
“I am not attending any proclamation. I have never attended any proclamation in my life in all of my political aspirations,” Duterte told the media in a press conference here late night Saturday, May 28.
Meanwhile, Panelo said he welcomes any position Duterte gives to him.
“All members of the Cabinet are at the pleasure of the incoming President,” Panelo said.
Panelo said no family member of Duterte was also present during the proclamation.
As of press time, the following are Duterte’s picks for his Cabinet: Atty. Salvador Medialdea as Executive Secretary; Panelo as Presidential Spokesperson; Perfecto Yasay Jr as Acting Foreign Affairs Secretary; Arthur Tugade as Transportation and Communications Secretary; Atty. Vitaliano Aguirre II as Justice Secretary; Alfonso Cusi as Energy Secretary; Carlos Dominguez as Finance Secretary; Emmanuel Piñol as Agriculture Secretary; Rep. Mark Villar as Public Works and Highways; Jesus Dureza as presidential adviser for the Mindanao peace process; Rep. Silvestre Bello III; Andrea Domingo as chief of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor); Michael Dino as Presidential Assistant for the Visayas; Jose Calida as Solicitor General; Ernesto Pernia as chief of National Economic Development Authority; Hermogenes Esperon Jr., as National Security Adviser; Leonor Briones as Education Secretary; and Benjamin Diokno as Budget Secretary.(davaotoday.com)
