Duterte offers DAR, DENR, DOLE and DSWD to communists

Presumptive President-elect Rodrigo Duterte on Monday identified his choices to helm Cabinet positions in his administration, while offering four departments as an olive branch for members of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) to fill.

The mayor and self-styled sheriff of Davao City said it was time to put an end to hostilities with the CPP and its armed wing, the New People's Army, which has been embroiled in decades of on-off fighting with government troops in the south and east of the country that has killed 40,000 people.

"Ang ibibigay ko sa Communist Party of the Philippines, open yung DAR, DENR, Labor if they want kasi sabi nila pinaka-oppress ng ano yan," Duterte said in a press conference in Davao City.

"They are the most vigilant group in the Philippines about labor so  they would get it. DSWD at madami pang iba but those are the only departments I can concede to them, that four. Maganda na 'yan," he added.

"I offer my hand in peace to Sison and to others and we can talk," Duterte told a news conference in Davao, where he has remained since a May 9 election for which an unofficial vote count shows him a clear winner.

In a television interview, Sison said he was felt proud to see Duterte win but ruled himself out of serving in his cabinet. He said the CPP would seriously consider his offer.

"No, I don't want any position for myself, but you know there are many people who are very competent," he told CNN Philippines.

Cabinet members

Duterte also revealed names of possible members of his Cabinet.

He said his Executive Secretary will be his personal lawyer, Salvador "Bingbong" Medialdea, who is also part of his transition and selection committees.

Lawyer Salvador Panelo, meanwhile, will be Duterte's presidential spokesperson.

Duterte said he has also offered the Department of Finance to his friend Carlos "Sonny" Dominguez III, who served as agriculture secretary during the time of the late President Corazon Aquino.

Duterte said he is considering former Clark Development Corp. president Arthur Tugade to head the Department of Transportation and Communications.

"He (Dominguez) is going to get the finance department. My classmate sa [San Beda] law school, valedictorian, Art Tugade, will get DOTC," he said.

Dominguez was a classmate from Ateneo de Davao high school and the campaign finance manager of Duterte. 

Duterte also said that he has asked his running mate, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, to take the Department of Justice or the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

He said he also asked former Securities and Exchange Commission Perfecto Yasay if he could be acting DFA secretary for one year.

"In the meantime, 'di ako sigurado kay Alan, I will appoint acting secretary Yasay. Sabi n'ya he has a teaching commitment kasi professor sa law sa Hawaii and he just came home to greet me. Sabi ko if he can take one year... mag-furlough muna sya, take sabbatical leave and join, I would assign him sa DFA in acting capacity," Duterte explained.

He said that Peter Laurel, president of the Lyceum of the Philippines University in Batangas and Laguna, will be appointed as education secretary while former Press secretary Jesus Dureza will head the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process.

Dureza was also the peace adviser of former Presidents Fidel Ramos and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Former Justice secretary  Silvestre "Bebot" Bello III, who gave up his reelection for representative of 1BAP party-list to help in Duterte's campaign, will be the government's chief peace negotiator with the CPP.

Duterte also met with Arroyo-era defense secretary Gilberto "Gibo" Teodoro, who said he still needs time to decide whether to accept an offer to return to the post.

Meanwhile, Panelo announced that former Cotabato Governor Manny Piñol will head the Department of Agriculture while former Immigration official Andrea Domingo will be in charge of the Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).

PNP, AFP picks

Duterte also revealed that for the position of Philippine National Police chief, he is choosing between Chief Superintendent Ramon Apolinario, officer-in-charge of the Mimaropa Region; Chief Superintendent Ronald dela Rosa and Senior Superintendent Rene Aspera .

"They were classmates and pareho ang year of service, nobody would get the edge. So I say you sit, talk between the three of you... They are good. They have been my chief of police in the past and all rendered sterling performances in the city of Davao," he said.

Duterte said on Sunday night that he is eyeing Lt. General Ricardo Visaya from the Southern Luzon Command to be the chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. —NB/KG/ALG/JST with a report from Reuters, GMA News