Marcos offers Cabinet posts to Benny Laguesma, Toots Ople

Presumptive president Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has asked former Labor secretary Benny Laguesma and Susan "Toots" Ople to be part of his administration, spokesperson Atty. Vic Rodriguez bared on Tuesday.

Rodriguez told reporters that Marcos had talked to Laguesma and Ople before leaving the country for Australia. Laguesma was asked to lead the Department of Labor and Employment while Ople was asked to be the head of the Department of Migrant Workers.

"'Yung dalawang binabanggit ko na kinausap ni BBM bago siya umalis ay sina dating secretary of Labor and Employment Benny Laguesma at si Ms. Toots Ople. Parehong respetado sa larangan ng labor and employment na kaniyang kinausap at tinanong kung nais maglingkod sa gobyerno at sa ilalim ng pamahalaang Marcos," Rodriguez said.

(Marcos talked to former DOLE secretary Benny Laguesma and Ms. Toots Ople before he left. The two are both respected in the labor and employment sector and they were asked if they want to join the government under the Marcos administration.)

Rodriguez said Laguesma and Ople have yet to accept the offer as they want to consult first with their families, friends, and other individuals.

"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," he said.

(They asked for a little time to consult and talk with their loved ones, maybe their friends and the people they look up to, listen, and ask for advice.)

Earlier, the Marcos camp announced that presumptive vice president Sara Duterte and former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Benhur Abalos have accepted the posts to lead the Department of Education and the Department of the Interior and Local Government, respectively.

First 100 days

Rodriguez was also asked what to expect on Marcos' first 100 days as president. He said these days would be about "meaningful appointments" under the Marcos administration.

Rodriguez, however, said the first 100 days is just like the 90-day campaign period.

"'Yung first 100 days, we are not looking at first 100 days because we don't talk about the first 100 days ng nasa gitna ka pa ng pandemya, ang daming problemang haharapin [while in the middle of a pandemic, there are a lot of problems to be faced]" Rodriguez said.

"Sabi nga ni president-elect Bongbong, siguro mas mainam na sukatin o husgahan tayo doon sa kanyang magiging last 100 days instead sa first 100 days," he added.

[According to president-elect Bongbong, it might be better if we are judged in our last 100 days instead of our first 100 days.]

When it comes to Marcos' inauguration, Rodriguez said the matter is still being discussed as the camp is still waiting for Congress' proclamation on Marcos' victory.

"Mindful naman tayo na tayo ay nasa gitna pa rin ng pandemya, we're looking at the traditional venue where the inaugural of all past Philippine presidents are usually held at 'yan nga ay doon sa Quirino Grandstand but alam din naman natin na mayroong quarantine facility doon so di pa talaga napaguusapan," Rodriguez said. 

[We are mindful of the fact the we are still in a pandemic, we're looking at the traditional venue where the inaugural of all past Philippine presidents are usually held at Quirino Grandstand but we all know that there is a quarantine facility there so we haven't discussed that yet.]

—AOL/RSJ, GMA News