THE transition team of President-elect Rodrigo Duterte wants some “devil’s advocates” in the search and selection cluster who will speak for and against the list of personalities being recommended to head key government posts. A devil’s advocate expresses opinions contrary to the others’ to ensure  an interesting discussion on the issue or a person being deliberated on. Duterte spokesperson Peter Laviña said they want to ensure that the best of the lot would be appointed by Duterte. The search and selection cluster also wants to make sure that the appointees have a “shared vision, integrity, ability and personal sacrifice.” The cluster is composed of Maribojoc Mayor Leoncio Evasco, national campaign manager who will head the cluster on Social Services and Development, Duterte’s exectuive asisstant Christopher Go for Security and Peace and Order, businessman Carlos Dominguez for Economic Development, lawyer Salvador Medialdea for the Judiciary, Laviña for Infrastructure Development, and  lawyer Loreato Ata for government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs). “Within our group, we have an ongoing discussion on the vetting and selecting. When the name comes up, we try to raise issues for and against. We select the best before we subject them to the approval of the presumptive President,” Laviña said. He added that they have been receiving applications via e-mail and suggestions of personalities that should take a possible seat in the Duterte Cabinet. “Some have even submitted full bio-data, presented their curriculum vitae and programs and plans for the incoming administration. We are receiving mails via LBC. We are receiving from everywhere, from ordinary citizens who are suggesting personalities but most of them I am not familiar (with),” he said. Laviña said they are giving those suggested personalities a fair shake and will have them checked, validated, and vetted for proper recommendation by the cluster. He said complete list of cabinet secretaries, undersecretaries, and assistant secretaries for the 17 Cabinet offices will be finalized before June 30. June 30 is when Duterte takes his oath as the 16th President of the Republic. He said they will submit at least three personalities in the shortlist to the presumptive President and it's up to him who he will he pick up to join his Cabinet. “But we have to understand that the mayor might have someone in mind already for that position,” he said. Dominguez said they wanted to make sure that the new administration is fully staffed with qualified personalities. The Duterte’s search and selection committee is also considering to retain some of the outgoing Cabinet members of President  Aquino but “they will be subject to the vetting process,” he said. (antonio colina IV/mindanews)