MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Thursday said the appointment of defense and health secretaries remains pending and that he is satisfied with the performance of the Department of National Defense and Department of Health.
“Sa DND, no, I think happy ako with the situation as it is now. We’ll see. These things are revisited especially every year at the end of the first year. I don’t think that’s a secret to everyone that at the end of the first year, ‘yung mga ibang kandidato, they will now join the mix of possible nominees,” he said in a chance interview with reporters in Quezon City.
(I think I’m happy with the situation in DND as it is now. We’ll see. I don’t think it’s a secret to everyone that at the end of the first year, the other candidates will join the mix of possible nominees.)
The DND is currently headed by officer-in-charge Undersecretary Jose Faustino Jr.
As for the Department of Health (DOH), Marcos said he also has no nominee yet for the top post and added that officer-in-charge Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire is “doing a fine job.”
“Wala pa kaming DOH. Wala pa kaming i-nominate. Usec. Vergeire is doing a fine job. So we let her do [her job] kasi we are still not out of the pandemic so we have to continue to be careful,” the President said.
(We have not yet nominated someone for DOH Secretary.)
Marcos earlier said he will only appoint a DOH secretary once the COVID-19 situation in the country has normalized.