Marcos swears in Cabinet members as 1st ‘official act’

Marcos visited Malacañang earlier in the day to sign in the Palace guest book and meet with outgoing President Roa Rodrigo Duterte before proceeding to the National Museum of the Philippines for his inauguration as the country’s 17th President. (File Photo: Bongbong Marcos/Facebook)

MANILA – Newly-installed President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. returned to Malacañan Palace on Thursday afternoon to swear in appointees to his Cabinet.

Marcos visited Malacañang earlier in the day to sign in the Palace guest book and meet with outgoing President Roa Rodrigo Duterte before proceeding to the National Museum of the Philippines for his inauguration as the country’s 17th President.

Duterte received final military honors before leaving the Palace to formally end his six-year term as President.

His arrival honors were met with drizzle that they had to use umbrellas while in Palace grounds.

After hosting a traditional Vin d’honneur with diplomats at the National Museum, Marcos received arrival honors at the Malacañan and later swore in appointees to his Cabinet.

He ascended the Palace’s main stairs this time with his wife lawyer First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and their sons Sandro, Simon, and Vincent.

Marcos described the mass oath-taking of new Cabinet secretaries as the “first official act” of his administration.

To date, Marcos has named at least 24 appointees to executive departments and other Cabinet-level agencies, most of whom will later go through the Commission on Appointments in Congress for confirmation.

Some of his appointees were also members of Duterte’s Cabinet.

Marcos has designated himself as Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary “for now.”

He has yet to pick secretaries to head the Departments of Health (DOH), Foreign Affairs (DFA), and Energy (DOE).

Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles earlier said more appointments will be named in the following days.

Marcos also swore in officials of Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur, including his eldest son, Ilocos First District Rep. Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” Marcos.

Marcos is expected to host an inaugural dinner in the Palace.

He will also be attending a People’s Concert, which is part of thanksgiving activity for his supporters, in Mendiola, Manila.

Marcos took his oath of office at the National Museum in Manila at Thursday noon.

The 1987 Constitution mandates the President-elect to take oath at noon on June 30, a ceremonial event marking the start of his six-year term as the country’s new chief executive.