Marcos offers Cabinet posts to Ople, Laguesma

MANILA – Presumptive president Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has offered Cabinet positions to former Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma and overseas Filipino worker advocate Susan “Toots” Ople, his spokesperson said on Tuesday.

In a press conference, spokesperson Atty. Vic Rodriguez said Laguesma is being eyed as the head of the Department of Labor and Employment, while Ople was asked to lead The Department of Migrant Workers under the incoming administration.

“Sila ay very warm ‘yung pagtanggap (They had very warm reception), they were honored,” Rodriguez, who also heads the Marcos transition team, said in a press conference in their headquarters in Mandaluyong.

Rodriguez said Laguesma and Ople were honored by the offer, but asked for more time to consult their families and friends.

“Humihingi lang sila ng kaunting panahon para makonsulta at makausap ‘yung kanilang mahal sa buhay, siguro ‘yung ilang kaibigan at ‘yung mga taong kanilang pinaniniwalaan at pinakikinggan at hinihingan ng payo (They are just asking for time to consult and talk to their loved ones, friends, and people they trust for advice),” he said.

The Marcos camp has earlier announced that presumptive Vice President Sara Duterte would take the helm of the Department of Education, while former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chair Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. is set to become the next secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government.