BBM names 3 more nominees: JPE, DOJ chief Guevarra and AFP chief Faustino
PRESIDENT-ELECT Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. on Friday announced three more Cabinet appointees during his administration.
In a news statement, press secretarydesignate Rose Beatrix L. Cruz-angeles said Marcos picked former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile to become the next presidential legal counsel.
Enrile, 98, served three portfolios in separate periods during the administration of former president Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr. — finance, justice, and later Minister of National Defense until 1986, when the Edsa revolt where he played a key role led to the ouster and exile of Marcos Sr. and his family. He and Marcos Jr. have since reconciled.
“Enrile, a staunch supporter of Presidentelect Marcos and Vice President-elect Inday Sara Duterte during the 2022 elections, reaffirmed his commitment to serve the country and ensure the success of the incoming Marcos administration,” Angeles said on Friday.
Angles said Marcos will also be appointing outgoing Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra as the next Solicitor General.
“Guevarra, who was chosen for his sterling performance as a lawyer for over 30 years, graduated magna cum laude majoring in Political Science from the Ateneo de Manila University in 1974,” Angeles said.
She said Guevarra already accepted the nomination as Solicitor General-designate during his meeting with President-elect Marcos on Thursday.
The last new addition to Marcos’s Cabinet is retired Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Jose Faustino Jr.
Faustino will serve as Senior Undersecretary and Officer-in-charge of the Department of National Defense (DND).
“A post he would later assume as Secretary on Nov. 13, 2022, in compliance with the one-year ban on the appointment of retired military officers under Republic Act 6975,” Angeles said.
“Faustino and incoming National Security Adviser, Retired UP Prof. Clarita Carlos, met with President-elect Marcos on Thursday,” she added.
Faustino is a graduate of the “Maringal” Class of 1988, and was the former commander of the Joint Task Force Mindanao and was a commanding General of the Philippine Army.