Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno. CDN FILE PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA
President Rodrigo Duterte has designated Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno and two other Malacañang executives as the country’s caretakers while he is on state visits to Cambodia and Singapore from December 13 to 16.
READ: Duterte to visit Cambodia, Singapore
Joining Diokno in the caretaker committee are Acting Executive Secretary Menardo Guevarra and Undersecretary Jesus Melchor Quitain of the Office of the President.
Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, who had been the country’s caretaker during Duterte’s previous overseas trips, is joining the President’s official delegation in his state visits.
The caretaker committee will be in charge of the day-to-day operations of the Office of the President and will oversee the general administration of the executive department.
Aside from Medialdea, the other members of Duterte’s official delegation are Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo, Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, Sen. Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao, and Philippine National Police chief Director-General Ronald dela Rosa. RAM/rga