Bongbong offers posts to Laguesma, Ople
PRESUMPTIVE President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. flew to Australia for a “much needed rest and vacation” so he can enjoy his last few days as “citizen Bongbong” before he formally assumes office as president, said his spokesman Atty. Vic Rodriguez.
In a media briefing on Tuesday, Rodriguez said that before he left for Australia, Marcos Jr. spoke to two people he is eyeing to serve in his Cabinet—former Labor Secretary Benny Laguesma and former Labor Undersecretary and now migrant workers’ advocate Susan “Toots” Ople.
Laguesma is reportedly being eyed to head the Department of Labor and Employment; and Ople, the newly created Department of Migrant Workers.
Laguesma and Ople responded “warmly” to, and were honored by the offer, but asked Marcos Jr. for more time to consult their families and decide accordingly, said Rodriguez.
In Australia, Rodriguez said, the Australian Prime Minister met with Marcos Jr., who earlier received congratulatory messages from the leaders of the US, China, Japan and the EU.
Rodriguez said there is still no decision on where to hold Marcos Jr’s inauguration. Considerations of the pandemic situation, plus the fact that Congress has not yet officially convened to canvass the votes for President and has not proclaimed him, militate against an early decision on inaugural venue.
“We are mindful that we are still in middle of a pandemic. We are looking at traditional venues where inaugurations of past presidents used to be held,” said Rodriguez. The most common choice for venue was Quirino Grandstand, near where a quarantine facility for Covid-19 patients is located.
“We will wait for Congress to convene and formally proclaim” Marcos and presumptive vice president Sara Duterte Carpio, according to him.
“We haven’t narrowed down the options for where to hold the inauguration, again, because we defer to the wisdom of Executive Secretary [Salvador] Medialdea, that we all have to wait for the official canvass to begin, and for President Bongbong to be officially proclaimed by Congress,” said his spokesman.