Duterte appoints Philippine Cabinet Secretary

Jun Evasco, the outgoing mayor of Maribojoc - a town in Bohol - has been appointed as the next Secretary to the Cabinet. He will oversee the Office of the President, organise Cabinet meetings and identify priority areas for the President’s approval.

He is de facto the most senior government official, with power to set official targets and represent the President in meetings. Evasco was President-elect Duterte’s campaign manager.

Prior to holding the role of mayor, he served in Davao City Engineer’s office. He was ordained a priest in 1970, and was a former rebel, joining the Communist Party of the Philippines after his convent was raided in 1974.

Meanwhile, Salvador Medialdea, Duterte’s personal lawyer and also his childhood friend, will act as the executive secretary.

A former lawyer and chairman of the Securities and Exchange commision, Perfecto Yasay Jr. will serve as the secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs. Vitaliano Aguirre II, Duterte’s classmate at the San Beda Law School, will be the secretary of the Department of Justice.

He was Duterte's chief legal counsel during the presidential campaign. Formerly the CEO and President of Clark Development Corporation, Arthur Tugade will be the new secretary of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC).

He was also Duterte’s classmate. Manny Piñol, who was the former governor for North Cotabato, is set to be head of Department of Agriculture. Carlos Dominguez III will lead the Department of Finance.

The former businessman led the finance committee for Duterte’s presidential campaign and was cabinet secretary for the Agriculture department under President Aquino’s term.

He is a former classmate and childhood friend of Duterte’s. Salvador Panelo, a well-known lawyer with high profile clients to his name, will be the presidential spokesperson.

The Philippines has the American system of governance where senior officials in charge of departments are appointed by the President.

They are a hybrid between the Ministers and Secretaries common in South East Asia. Image from President-elect Rodrigo Duterte's facebook page