Marcos has power to appoint defeated bets to Cabinet, Bersamin insists amid opposition

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin maintained Friday that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has the power to appoint defeated candidates in the last elections to Cabinet posts amid calls against it.

In an ambush interview, Bersamin was asked about the plea of Cagayan de Oro 2nd District Representative Rufus Rodriguez for Marcos not to appoint and recycle personalities who lost in the the May 2022 elections.

“They mean very well but you know there are good people out there. If the President wants to replace some people in the Cabinet right now, he is within his full political power to exercise that choice,” Bersamin told reporters.

Asked about the suggestion of 4Ps Party-list Representative Marcelino “Nonoy” Libanan to Marcos not to appoint officials who have plans to run in the 2025 elections, Bersamin said they cannot prohibit anyone from running.

“Sino ba naman ang makapagbabawal sa sinumang tao na tumakbo dahil sa nais niyang maglingkod sa bayan (Who can prohibit a person from running for a position because he wants to serve the country)?” he said.

Bersamin pointed out that Marcos is smart in designating people to  government posts.

“We cannot actually limit the discretion of the President in choosing the people whom he believes could deliver on his agenda for the people of the Philippines,” he said.

On Tuesday, Marcos said that a reorganization could happen in his Cabinet as the appointment ban on candidates who lost in last year's elections ended on May 9.

He said he is keen on appointing to certain positions some individuals who are now no longer covered by the prohibition. — RSJ/KBK, GMA Integrated News