Rody on Cayetano as DFA chief: Senate needs him

MANILA, Philippines -  President Duterte has hinted that he may not appoint his ally Sen. Alan Cayetano to the Cabinet after the ban on the appointment of losing candidates ends.

Asked in a press conference on Monday if he would designate Cayetano as foreign affairs secretary, Duterte replied: “We have not discussed it yet.”

“But you know, Sen. Cayetano is a very brilliant man. He would be needed by the Senate. Huwag ninyong walain ‘yan. Dito pwede naman acting, acting eh (Do not remove him from there. An acting secretary will do),” he added.

In an interview last December, Duterte said he would appoint Cayetano as foreign affairs secretary because Perfecto Yasay Jr. would be returning to the US to resume his stint as professor of international trade.

Cayetano was Duterte’s vice presidential candidate during the 2016 polls. He ranked third behind then Camarines Sur representative Leni Robredo and former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. with 5.9 million votes.

Under the law, a losing candidate may not be appointed to any government post for one year.

Yasay lost his post last week after his appointment was rejected by the Commission on Appointments (CA) for issuing misleading statements about his citizenship.

Yasay denied being an American citizen and owning a US passport in a CA hearing last February.

But it was later learned that Yasay acquired American citizenship in 1986 and renounced it at the US embassy in Manila only last year. He also claimed he was issued a US passport in 1986 but lost it.

A career official, Undersecretary Enrique Manalo, was named acting foreign affairs secretary.

Duterte said Yasay went to the US after then president Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law.

“It was not his (Yasay) fault actually. It was not his fault because that time, he could not travel,” the President said.

“But ang problema itinago niya. Ilabas mo. Ano bang masama niyan na he was seeking sanctuary there (The problem is he hid it. He should have disclosed it.  What’s wrong with seeking sanctuary there)?” he added.