Classmates named to DOTC, DFA posts

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – It appears that old faces in government who happen to be long-time friends of incoming president Rodrigo Duterte are staging a comeback in the next administration.

Duterte has named his grade school friend, former agriculture chief Carlos Dominguez, as finance secretary while former Clark Development Corp. chief Arthur Tugade will be the next secretary of the Department of Transportation and Communications. 

Tugade was Duterte’s classmate in law school at San Beda College.

Talks are rife that former defense chief Gilbert Teodoro Jr. will also join the Duterte administration. 

Teodoro arrived in Davao City early yesterday morning and was scheduled to meet with Duterte. 

Duterte has offered Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) or the Department of Justice posts.

“Alan can take his pick. I do not know his preference,” Duterte said of his runningmate, who still has three years in the Senate and is banned from an appointive post until a year after elections. 

Meanwhile, Duterte’s close friend, Salvador Medialdea, will be executive secretary.

“Medialdea is a good man and he is acceptable to everybody,” Duterte said. 

Lawyer Salvador Panelo will be presidential spokesman and, at the same time, take charge of the Malacañang press corps. 

Peter Laurel of the Lyceum University has been tapped to be education secretary.

Lawyers Jesus Dureza and Silvestre Bello III shall also be involved in the peace process.

Duterte added that he asked another old friend, former Securities and Exchange Commission chair Perfecto Yasay, his roommate at a dormitory in law school, to be acting secretary of the DFA.

“I asked him to take a sabbatical from his teaching commitment at the University of Hawaii to join my administration,” Duterte said. 

But he was quick to point out that he would need young blood in his administration and he plans to recruit them by offering higher allowances. 

“How can we have these young people in our government if they are not getting paid enough or are paid lower than those in the private sector?” Duterte asked.

Applicants’ names published

Those applying for a job in the incoming Duterte administration must be willing to have their names published in the newspapers as part of the vetting process prior to their appointment. 

Duterte issued this statement at a press conference at the Matina Enclave Residences in Davao City, a week after he took a break from the grueling 90-day campaign period for the May 9 elections. 

There are about 421 positions that need to be filled.

The transition committee has studied the staffing summary of national government agencies and hundreds of applicants have arrived in Davao City.

At least three names will be suggested by the transition committee to the elected president for every position.

The president, as appointing authority, would give the final decision on political appointees. 

“I will decide on my own. If things go wrong, I will be responsible as president,” Duterte said. 

CSC exam 

In a related development, those who are hoping to work in government under Duterte’s leadership may take the first step towards their goal by taking the civil service test.

The Civil Service Commission (CSC) announced yesterday that it has started accepting applications for the Oct. 23 schedule of the Career Service Examination (CSE) for both professional and sub-professional levels.  – Edith Regalado, Michael Punongbayan, Alexis Romero