Senate President Vicente Sotto at the Senate Session hall. INQUIRER file photo /
EDWIN BACASMAS
Senator Gregorio Honasan’s appointment paper as secretary of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) may come out on Monday, November 12, Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said on Wednesday.
Sotto said the schedule of Honasan’s appointment was discussed during their meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte in October.
“It was discussed, napag-usapan na kung pwede November 12 na si Greg,” he said in a news forum.
Asked categorically if he meant it was the possible date for the release of the appointment paper, Sotto told INQUIRER.net in a text message: “Most probably.”
Honasan was recently offered the post by the President, in time for the selection of the third telecommunications player to break the “duopoly” between PLDT Inc. and Globe Telecom.
READ: Honasan is next DICT chief; appointment paper out soon – Medialdea
Sotto said Honasan’s transfer to a new field will be a big loss to the Senate but will be an “asset” to the DICT once he officially becomes its secretary.
“Kung tutuusin malaking kawalan si Senator Honasan sa amin sa Senado (If we will look at it, Senator Honasan is a big loss to us in the Senate). You have seen how he handled his committees, and how he participates in the debates,” he added.
He said that Honasan “will not totally be gone” since he will be appointed in the executive department.
“We can [still] avail of his services, his know-how, his camaraderie with us every now and then,” he said.
Sotto said the Senate majority bloc is yet to discuss who will replace Honasan in his committee chairmanships. Honasan currently chairs the Senate committees on National Defense and Security and the Peace, Unification and Reconciliation. /jpv