Presumptive president Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. has started searching for his alter egos in government ahead of his official proclamation as the new chief executive of the Philippines.
READ: How Big is Bongbong Marcos' Win With 30 Million Votes?
So far, the camp and allies of Marcos Jr. have announced the following names that will join his Cabinet once he assumes office:
Sara Duterte-Carpio: Department of Education
The running mate of Marcos Jr. and the presumptive vice president was the first announced member of his Cabinet as education secretary.
While Duterte-Carpio said she and Marcos Jr. discussed before the campaign period the possibility of her leading the Department of National Defense, "it was decided" that she would "work on producing skilled learners with the mindset to realize their full potential as individuals."
Benhur Abalos: Department of the Interior and Local Government
The former MMDA chairman and longtime Mandaluyong City politician is the second member of the incoming Marcos cabinet to be announced to the public. He will serve as the interior secretary. Prior to the May 9 vote, Abalos served as Marcos Jr.'s campaign manager.
His father Benjamin, was elected mayor of Mandaluyong City while his wife Carmencita, the outgoing mayor, was elected vice mayor.
Vic Rodriguez: Executive Secretary
Vic Rodriguez, Marcos Jr.'s chief of staff and spokesperson, has accepted the position of executive secretary of the incoming administration.
Rodriguez, a lawyer by profession, has been at the front of Marcos' campaign since his failed 2016 vice presidential run. Rodriguez said it was "very flattering to work alongside the best person I’ve known".
Boying Remulla : Department of Justice
Cavite Rep. Jesus Crispin "Boying" Remulla said he accepted the offer from Marcos Jr. to become the justice secretary of his administration.
Remulla, who ran and won unopposed as the representative of the seventh district of Cavite in the May 9 elections, said the offer came days after the polls when it was clear that Marcos had won.
Remulla made headlines in 2020 as a vocal opponent of the renewal of the ABS-CBN franchise.
Arsenio Balisacan: National Economic and Development Authority
An economist, Balisacan was NEDA chief during the time of the late President Benigno Aquino III and the first chairperson of the Philippine Competition Commission.
Before joining the Aquino Cabinet, Balisacan was a professor and dean od the University of the Philippines Diliman School of Economics.
Bienvenido Laguesma: Department of Labor and Employment
Laguesma served as labor secretary during the administration of former President Joseph Estrada. During the Aquino administration, he was appointed as a board member of the state pension fund Social Security System.
Susan 'Toots' Ople: Department of Migrant Workers
A migrant workers' rights advocate, Ople is the daughter of the late Sen. Blas Ople, who was labor minister during the administration of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr.
She founded the Blas F. Ople Policy Center and Training Institute, a non-governmental organization that provides assistance to overseas Filipino workers.
Marcos Jr. had asked Ople to start organizing the Department of Migrant Workers so that it will be ready once the new administration comes.
Trixie Cruz-Angeles: Press Secretary
The radio commentator turned vlogger has accepted her nomination to the Cabinet as press secretary.
A lawyer by profession, Trixie Cruz-Angeles will primarily oversee the operations of the Presidential Communications Operations Office, including regular briefings to journalists covering Malacañang.
Benjamin Diokno: Department of Finance
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno will return to Cabinet work under the Marcos administration as finance secretary.
Diokno previously served as budget secretary under President Rodrigo Duterte and former President Joseph Estrada. The finance secretary is seen as the head of the economic team, in charge of collecting revenue through taxes and customs duties and managing the country's debt.
Manuel Bonoan: Department of Public Works and Highways
Bonoan is set to return to DPWH under the Marcos administration as its new head. The president and CEO of San Miguel Corp's tollway business will return to government work with Marcos saying "I know he will do a good job."
Bonoan has previously served at the DPWH under the administrations of past presidents Fidel V. Ramos, Joseph Estrada, and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Anton Lagdameo Jr.: Special Assistant to the President
Former Davao del Norte Rep. Anton Lagdameo Jr. will serve as special assistant to the president, Marcos Jr. said.
The husband of actress Dawn Zulueta is a longtime friend of Marcos Jr. with the president-elect even saying that "it should be an easy position for him to pick up" since they have worked together for years.
Erwin Tulfo: Department of Social Welfare and Development
The brother of Senator-elect Raffy Tulfo, Erwin has hosted news and public service programs in his three decades in the broadcasting industry.
He said he wants to be a DSWD secretary "on the ground" and would push for relief distribution during calamities within 24 hours.
READ: Erwin Tulfo Seeks at Least 6 Months to Prove Mettle at DSWD
Christina Frasco: Department of Tourism
The mayor of Liloan, Cebu also serves as the spokesperson for vice president-elect Sara Duterte-Carpio.
She is the daughter of incumbent Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia and is one of the top-performing mayors in the province as well as in the entire Central Visayas region, and a regional recipient of the 2021 Presidential Lingkod Bayan award by the Civil Service Commission.
READ: Incoming Tourism Secretary Frasco to Focus on Post-Pandemic Recovery
Amenah Pangandaman: Department of Budget and Management
Pangandaman has over two decades of policy development in finance expertise, currently serves as assistant governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, and was also an undersecretary at the DBM.
Naida Angping: Head of Presidential Management Staff
Angping was a three-term representative of the third district of Manila who advocated measures that promoted tourism development, public health and education, and women and children's welfare.
Ivan John Enrile Uy: Department of Information and Communications Technology
Uy, a lawyer by profession, is an expert in technology law, and served as chairman of the Commission on Information and Communications Technology.
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This is a developing story that will be updated as more names are announced.
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