Bongbong Marcos leads oath-taking of reappointed Cabinet members
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Tuesday led the oath-taking of his reappointed Cabinet members.
Malacañang said the oath-taking was held at the Palace, with newly appointed Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin leading the list of Cabinet members swearing in for office.
Bersamin replaced Atty. Victor Rodriguez, who stepped down from the post earlier, citing the need to focus on his family.
Malacañang said Marcos also administered the oath of the following ad-interim Cabinet appointees:
- Benjamin Diokno — Secretary of the Department of Finance
- Manuel Bonoan — Secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways
- Alfredo Pascual — Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry
- Erwin Tulfo — Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development
- Jaime Bautista — Secretary of the Department of Transportation
- Renato Solidum Jr. — Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology
- Raphael Lotilla — Secretary of the Department of Energy
- Susan “Toots” Ople — Secretary of the Department of Migrant Workers
- Arsenio Balisacan — Secretary of the National Economic Development Authority
- Jose Rizalino Larion Acuzar — Secretary of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development
Marcos had to reappoint some of his Cabinet members after the Commission on Appointments (CA) bypassed the nomination of 14 Cabinet officials to attend to pressing legislation before Congress started its recess.
Among the nominees who were bypassed were Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles and Secretary of the Department of Communications and Information Technology Ivan John Uy. Their names were not included on the list of those who were reappointed and took the oath on Tuesday.