Duterte names Quitain as new chief legal counsel

President Rodrigo Duterte has appointed Jesus Melchor Vega Quitain as new chief presidential legal counsel, replacing Salvador Panelo, who is running for senator in the 2022 elections.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque made the announcement on Tuesday, 10 days after Panelo filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) for the 2022 elections, thereby forfeiting his post as chief presidential legal counsel.

Quitain previously served as undersecretary under the Office of the Special Assistant to the President.

Roque, however, said Duterte has yet to replace former Department of Information and Communications Secretary Gregorio Honasan and ex-Department of Agrarian Reform Secretary John Castriciones.

Both Honasan and Castriciones have filed COC for senator in the 2022 elections. —KBK, GMA News