Caretaker committee tasked to run Palace

President Duterte has formed a caretaker committee that would administer the executive department while he is in Japan on an official visit.

The committee was created through Special Order No. 185 as Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, who usually acts as caretaker when the President is out of the country, is part of the Philippine delegation to Japan.

The caretaker committee is composed of Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno, acting executive secretary Menardo Guevarra and Office of the President Undersecretary Jesus Melchor Quitain.

“The committee shall take care of the day-to-day operations in the Office of the President and oversee the general administration of the executive department,” the order dated Oct. 24 read.

“It shall, if necessary, act for and on

behalf of the President except in matters on which the President is required by the Constitution to act in person,” it added.

The committee was tasked to perform these functions from Oct. 25 to 27.

According to the order, all acts of the committee for and on behalf of Duterte shall be deemed acts of the President unless disapproved or reprobated by the Chief Executive.

Duterte also issued Special Order no. 186 designating Guevarra as acting executive secretary while Medialdea is in Japan. Guevarra is the deputy executive secretary for legal affairs.

Duterte left for Japan yesterday for a three-day official visit that aims to strengthen ties between Manila and Tokyo.

The President’s trip came a few days after Vice President Leni Robredo flew to Ecuador to attend the United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development.

Robredo led the Philippine delegation for the event from Oct. 15 to 19.