Ni JONATHAN A. SANTES
DAVAO CITY - Inihayag na ni incoming President Rodrigo Duterte ang limang personalidad na pangungunahan ang limang puwesto sa Gabinete, sa ilalim ng kanyang panunungkulan na opisyal na magsisimula sa Hunyo 30.
Ito ay matapos tablahin ni Duterte ang kanyang spiritual adviser na si Apollo Quiboloy, na naiulat na nagtampo matapos mabigong makausap ang bagong Pangulo upang hilingin umano na maitalaga ang ilang personalidad na irerekomenda nito upang maging miyembro ng Gabinete.
“Let me be very clear, saying my friendship with my friends ends when the interest of the country begins. I would as much as possible make you happy if you were my friend, but I will not allow anybody to color my decisions in government,” pahayag ni Duterte sa pulong balitaan na ginanap dakong 4:00 ng madaling araw kahapon.
“From now on, it is always the interest of the people of the Republic of the Philippines that counts,” giit ng bagong Pangulo.
Kabilang sa mga itinalaga ni Duterte sa Gabinete sina dating Justice Secretary Silvestre Bello III bilang bagong kalihim ng Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE); dating AFP chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon bilang National Security Adviser (NSA); Maribojoc (Bohol) Mayor Leoncio Evasco, Jr. bilang Secretary to the Cabinet; Ernesto Perina, ng UP School of Economics, bilang director general ng National Economic Development Authority (NEDA); at Col. Rolando Bautista, dating hepe ng Joint Task Group-Basilan, bilang bagong Presidential Security Group (PSG) commander.