Marcos swears in ad-interim appointees, calls them ‘best team ever’ since father’s Cabinet

MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. touted his ad-interim appointees as the “best team ever” since the Cabinet of his father, former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr.

Marcos Jr. on Friday led the oath-taking ceremony of ten ad-interim appointees at Malacañang Palace:

• Executive Secretary Ralph Recto

• DOJ Sec. Fredderick Vida

• DPWH Sec. Giovanni Lopez

• DOLE Sec. Francis Tolentino

• DOH Sec. Edwin Mercado

• DENR Sec. Juan Miguel Cuna

• DOT Sec. Maria Bernardita Mathay

• DOTr Sec. Vince Dizon

• DBM Sec. Kim Robert De Leon 

• Philippine Space Agency Director General Gay Jane Perez. 

“This is the best team ever assembled here since my father’s Cabinet,” Marcos Jr. told the appointees as he swore them in.

Finance Sec. Frederick Go also took his oath before Marcos Jr. on Thursday, November 5.

The Presidential Communications Office said the move “reaffirm[s] the Administration’s confidence in their leadership and recognizing their contributions to their respective offices.”

Recto said Marcos’ directive to them was to make Christmas celebration lighter for Filipinos.

“Sana tuluy-tuloy na rin ‘yung pagbaba ng presyo ng pagkain at ang mahalaga, maging abot-kaya ng lahat ang noche buena sa pasko. So ‘yan ang unang-unang bilin ng Pangulo,” Recto told reporters in a chance interview after the oath-taking ceremony.

With this, the officials will have to face the powerful Commission on Appointments which is mandated under the Constitution to approve or disapprove appointments made by the chief executive.

According to the body, an ad interim appointment ceases to be valid upon disapproval by the Commission or, if not confirmed, until the next adjournment of Congress.  

An ad-interim appointment pertains to appointments  made  during  the  recess  of Congress.

Both chambers of Congress will resume session on November 9, Monday.

Marcos Jr. urged the officials to “build on existing gains, address longstanding challenges, and ensure the effective implementation of priority programs,” the PCO said.

“He also emphasized the need to keep basic goods affordable, provide safe and convenient transportation for Filipinos traveling home, and protect workers’ rights through the proper enforcement of labor laws, including holiday pay and benefits,” it added.