Manila: President-elect Rodrigo Duterte has continued looking for more “independent” applicants to fill up government posts, adding they should send resume without endorsements at a “job-fair” that he opened several days ago in Davao City, southern Philippines.
“Don’t get endorsements from senators or from anybody, a congressman, a governor. If there is an attached recommendation, automatically I reject that application. Just give your resume and I will do the investigation if you are fit for the job,” said Duterte.
In the same breath, he added, “As long as there is no corruption (attached to the candidate with endorsement), I will not overrule any recommendation.”
Describing the police chief he is looking for, Duterte mentioned “integrity and honest,” adding, “You must be passionately against drugs. If you are half-hearted or have a lukewarm attitude towards drugs, you’d better not apply.”
In reference to military postings, Duterte said he would abolish the Board of Generals that suggests names for appointments in the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Applicants for government posts, must be gutsy to allow their names published in newspapers, said Duterte, adding, “It (government post) goes to the best and the brightest.”
He has announced a few appointments. “Their names are familiar. They are borrowed from past administrations,” said a political observer.
The defence secretary’s post went to Gilbert Teodoro, former defence secretary of President Arroyo, cousin of President Beningo Aquino, a pilot with a Master of Laws degree in Harvard Law School, and a member of the State Bar of New York since 1997.
Choices for the Philippine National Police (PNP) chief included Chief Supt Ramon Apolinario, Senior Supt Rene Aspera, and Chief Supt Ronald dela Rosa. “They have been my chiefs of police in the past, they’re honest, they’re not corrupt, and they follow orders,” said Duterte.
The PNP relieved dela Rosa before the May 9 polls because he posted on Facebook a warning to possible cheaters. The post included of photo of him and Duterte in their younger days.
Lawyer-businessman Arthur P. Tugade was appointed secretary of transportation and communications. He was appointed by Aquino as president and chief executive of the state-owned Clark Development Corporation (CDC), a post he held from December 2012 to early April this year. He graduated with distinction from the San Beda College of Law where Duterte finished law.
Former North Cotabato (now Cotabato) governor Manny Pinol was appointed agriculture secretary. Congressman Mark Villar was named secretary of public works and highways. His parents, Senator Cynthia Villar and former Senate president Manuel Villar, leaders of the Nationalista Party, and Duterte’s party, PDP-Laban forged the “Coalition for Change”.
Salvador Medialdea has been appointed executive secretary; former immigration commissioner Andrea Domingo chief of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp (Pagcor); Peter Laurel, president of the provincial campuses of Lyceum University, education secretary; and lawyer Salvador Panelo spokesman.
Jesus Dureza, former press secretary of ex-president Gloria Arroyo, was assigned to handle peace talks with Filipino-Muslim rebels; former justice secretary Silvestre Bello, who also served Arroyo and was former peace negotiator of former president Fidel Ramos, was tasked to handle peace process with communist rebels.
Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, Duterte’s vice-presidential candidate, was a candidate secretary of justice or foreign affairs. He has an option to return to the Senate. Perfecto Yasay, former Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) chairman during the time of former president Joseph Estrada, was named acting foreign affairs secretary.
