Honasan accepts offer to be the next DICT secretary

Senator Gringo Honasan II has accepted President Rodrigo Duterte's offer to be the next secretary of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).

“I have decided to accept the offer of the President to help lead the DICT,” Honasan said in a text message to reporters.

He said he accepted the offer “for a better Philippines, a better government, for the Filipino People, and for a better future for our most precious children.”

As the new DICT secretary, Honasan will oversee the process for the entry of the third major player in the country's telecommunications industry.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III had earlier expressed confidence that Honasan will breeze through the confirmation hearing of the Commission on Appointments, being a current member of the chamber.

DICT is currently headed by Acting Secretary Eliseo Rio Jr., who had earlier said he would support whoever is chosen to be the next DICT secretary.

Rio took over the helm of DICT in May, months after the resignation of Rodolfo Salalima. 

Honasan is a former member of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. In 1986, he was one of the principal players of the EDSA Revolution as one of the leaders of the Reform the Armed Forces Movement (RAM) that broke away from the government.

Although awarded the Presidential Commendation by then-President Corazon Aquino, Honasan led attempts to overthrow her administration.

Honasan ran for Senate in 1995 as an independent candidate and won. He was re-elected in 2001, in 2007, and in 2013. His term will end in 2019.

He ran in 2016 as running mate of then-Vice President Jejomar Binay but lost to Vice President Leni Robredo. —KBK, GMA News