Evasco back as adviser

President Rodrigo Duterte appointed his longtime friend and former Cabinet secretary Leoncio Evasco Jr. as adviser for streamlining of government processes, the Palace announced Wednesday.

In a statement, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Evasco will serve the government with the rank of secretary, as stated in his appointment paper signed 24 November.

Roque noted that Evasco is not new in the Duterte administration, having served in the Cabinet during the first two years of the President’s term.

Evasco resigned as Cabinet secretary in October 2018 to run for governor. His post was given to former Davao City Rep. Karlo Nograles.

Missed gubernatorial bid

He lost his gubernatorial bid to Arthur Yap, another Duterte supporter and an ally of former president Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo.

“His familiarity with the present bureaucracy would contribute greatly in his new task of streamlining government processes in the Executive. Welcome back, PA Evasco,” Roque said.

Evasco will serve the government with the rank of secretary.

A former priest and New People’s Army rebel, Evasco was often praised by the President for his management skills.

He was a three-term mayor of his hometown of Maribojoc, Bohol. He is often credited for raising the town from a 5th class municipality to a 4th class one, primarily because of his focus on basic services, such as ensuring households’ access to water and free hospitalization.

Evasco spent three decades in Davao City as Duterte’s right hand man when he was mayor. During the 2016 presidential campaign, Duterte also picked him to be his campaign manager.