Duterte’s transition team meets

Duterte’s transition team includes Peter Laviña, Atty. Salvador Medialdea, Christopher Go, Leoncio Evasco (standing) and Carlos Dominguez. Not in photo and absent is Atty. Lorieto Ata. PHOTO BY NICO ALCONABA/ INQUIRER MINDANAO

The transition team of presumptive President-elect Rodrigo Duterte met for the first time on Thursday to hit the ground running and work on the country’s smooth transition to a new administration.

“We are just getting acquainted on the members (of the team) and its objective,” Leoncio Evasco Jr., the national campaign manager of Duterte, said over the phone.

Evasco, the outgoing town mayor of Maribojoc, Bohol, was tapped by Duterte to head the transition team.

His members are Peter Laviña, former councilor of Davao City and Duterte’s spokesperson during the campaign period; Christopher “Bong” Go, Duterte’s executive assistant; Carlos Dominguez, former agriculture secretary and the head of the campaign finance committee; and lawyers Salvador Medialdea and Loreto Ata.

Evasco said the transition team had setup policy, inauguration and selection subcommittees.

“One of our goals is to pave the way for the smooth entry of the new President,” he said.

Another crucial task of the team is to help Duterte select the members of his Cabinet.

“Definitely we will choose candidates who have no records of corruption and those who have shown integrity and competence,” Laviña said.