MANILA, Philippines — Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea has been designated government caretaker as President Rodrigo Duterte embarks on a weeklong round of visits to Cambodia, Hong Kong and China beginning Wednesday.
Medialdea “is designated as the officer-in-charge to take care of the day-to-day operations in the Office of the President and to oversee the general administration of the Executive Department on 10 May 2017 and from 15 May to 17 May 2017” to “ensure continuous and effective government service … while the President is out of the country,” a message from Malacanang spokesman Ernesto Abella said.
But because Medialdea will also be on official overseas travel from May 11 to 14, a caretaker committee composed of Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II, Cabinet Secretary Leoncio B. Evasco Jr., and Undersecretary Jesus Melchor V. Quitain of the Office of the President has been created to oversee executive functions.
