LIGHT MOMENTS. Presumptive President Rodrigo Duterte shares some light moments with his friends and guests at Hotel Elena in Davao City in the wee hours of the morning yesterday. This was Duterte’s first appearrance to the media since he took a break a week ago. (PHOTO BY KEITH BACONGCO OF MINDANEWS)
- Advertisement -

By Herbie Gomez and Cong B. Corrales

RODRIGO Duterte yesterday gave the public a glimpse of what to expect from his administration even as he announced that he would open his Cabinet to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).

- Advertisement -

Duterte told his first televised news conference since his self-imposed break last week that he was “willing to concede” four departments to the Communist Party: agrarian reform, environment and natural resources, labor and employment, and social welfare and development.

If communist leaders accepted the offer and joined the government, “… they will get it… and many more. But those are the only departments I can concede to them, that four. That’s already good enough,” Duterte said.

He said the CPP should also consider the labor department “because they said that that’s the most oppressed (sector)… so they are the most vigilant group in the Philippines about labor.”

Federal System

Duterte also spoke about his plan to push for a plebiscite as part of his advocacy to change the form of government to a federal system via a constitutional convention.

He said all this could be done in two years.

President’s Men

During his Davao news conference, he identified some of the people he was planning on appointing as Cabinet members.

He said he offered his running mate, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, to join his administration after a year either as secretary of foreign affairs or the justice department.

Duterte said Carlos Dominguez, who served as one of his campaign managers, has been offered the position of finance secretary.

His lawyer Salvador Panelo would serve as presidential spokesperson while his law school classmate Arthur Tugade would serve as transportation and communications secretary.

The next education secretary would be Peter Laurel who is president of the Lyceum of the Philippines University in Batangas.

Duterte’s executive secretary would likely be lawyer Salvador Medialdea while Jesus Dureza would become the presidential adviser on the peace process again.

The presumptive President also hinted that former Defense secretary Gilbert Teodoro would join his Cabinet.

Duterte bared his disdain over the use of patronage politics in applying for government posts, especially in the uniformed services.

“Kung merong mga endorsement di ko tatanggapin. Kung may tumawag na representative sa akin, wala ka na,” he said.

Duterte said he wants the “best and the brightest” to work in his administration, adding that he has already convened a “council of generals,” and would respect the council’s decision on who to choose to lead the various outfits of the uniformed services.

However, he identified three possible National Police chiefs:  Ronald dela Rosa, Ramon Apolinario, and Rene Aspera.

Death Penalty

Duterte called on Congress to restore capital punishment, specifically, death by hanging.

He said this the punishment should be imposed on those convicted for illegal drug trade, murder, rape, and robbery.

Duterte said he would also authorities to pounce on confirmed criminals before they could strike.

The fight against crime, he said, would start in the barangay levels. He said those with military training like former soldiers and former police officers would be tapped in the anti-crime campaign and armed. They would be under barangay chairpersons and would be supervised by the police, he said.

No More Junket

Under his administration, Duterte said, there would no longer be “Lakbay Aral,” and other extravagant official trips for seminars from the provinces to Metro Manila because these cost a lot of money. Instead, he said resource speakers would be sent to the provinces.

He said, “To tell you, it’s pure junket.” (herbie gomez and cong b. corrales)

Disclaimer

Mindanao Gold Star Daily holds the copyrights of all articles and photos in perpetuity. Any unauthorized reproduction in any platform, electronic and hardcopy, shall be liable for copyright infringement under the Intellectual Property Rights Law of the Philippines.

- Advertisement -