Tugade on Cabinet revamp: Secretaries work at pleasure of President

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade. INQUIRER file photo

TACLOBAN CITY-All secretaries work at the pleasure of President Duterte, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade maintained, in the wake of talks of possible reshuffling among Cabinet members.

None of the Cabinet secretaries was confident that they would keep their posts because such a decision was dependent on the President, he told reporters here on Friday.

“We all serve at the pleasure of the President. When the President decides we’re out, we are out. Ganun ho yun (That’s how it goes),” Tugade said.
“You should never second guess the discretion and judgment of the President. That’s his exclusive domain. Kanya ho yan (It’s his discretion),” he added.

Tugade was in the city on Friday for the opening of the extension of the Daniel Z. Romualdez (DZR) Airport terminal building that increased its passenger capacity from 300 to 700.

President Duterte earlier expressed disappointment over the performance of some of his Cabinet members, fueling reports of an impending revamp among his official family.

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II, who received a backlash over the decision to dismiss drug charges against high-profile drug personalities in the country, was confident he would keep his job.

Aguirre, who was in the city last Wednesday, told reporters he still enjoyed the confidence of Mr. Duterte.