Duterte names 5 more to Cabinet

By Jonathan A. Santes and Armin Amio Davao City — President-elect Rodrigo Duterte yesterday announced five new appointments to key Cabinet posts – former Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Hermogenes C. Esperon Jr. as incoming National Security Adviser; former Justice Secretary Silvestre Bello III as Labor and Employment Secretary; Ernesto Pernia of the University of the Philippines School of Economics as National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Director General; former Joint Task Group-Basilan Chief Col. Rolando Bautista as head of the Presidential Security Group (PSG); and Maribojoc, Bohol Mayor Leoncio “Jun” Evasco Jr. as Secretary to the Cabinet. Evasco was earlier reported to have been appointed by Duterte to head the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) but the former declined. Duterte said he contemplated on Evasco heading the DILG, but he changed his mind as the Maribojoc mayor was a rebel priest. He also debunked claims [...]