Enrile, Guevarra, Faustino picked to serve under Marcos admin

Former Senate president and veteran lawmaker Juan Ponce Enrile and outgoing Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra have been picked to be part of President-elect Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s Cabinet.

In a statement on Friday, Press Secretary-designate Trixie Cruz-Angeles  said retired General Jose Faustino Jr. has also been added to the list of Marcos' soon-to-be Cabinet officials.

Angeles said Enrile will be Presidential Legal Counsel, Guevarra Solicitor General, and Faustino senior undersecretary and officer-in-charge and later on secretary of the Department of National Defense (DND).

Marcos is set to assume the presidency on June 30.

Angeles said the recent nominations highlight Marcos' commitment to encouraging economic development and inclusive growth.

Marcos, son of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr., has vowed to prioritize agriculture, healthcare, education, infrastructure development, digital infra, job creation, and the utilization of renewable energy.

Enrile

Angeles said Enrile, 98, is a staunch supporter of Marcos and Vice President-elect Inday Sara Duterte during the 2022 elections.

Enrile announced his retirement in politics in 2016. He had served in the government in various roles for the past 50 years, including interim Secretary of Finance from 1966 to 1968, Justice secretary from 1968 to 1970, and minister of National Defense from 1972 to 1986.

Enrile became the 21st Senate president during the 15th Congress from 2008 to 2013.

Guevarra

Meanwhile, Angeles said Guevarra has accepted the nomination as solicitor-general-designate during his meeting with Marcos on Thursday.

She said Guevarra, who will replace Jose Calida, was chosen for his "sterling performance as a lawyer for over 30 years."

Before being appointed as ad interim Justice secretary in 2018, Guevarra was the deputy executive secretary of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Marcos has already picked Cavite Representative Jose Crispin Remulla as Guevarra's successor in the Department of Justice.

Faustino

Like Guevarra, Faustino also met with Marcos on Thursday, Angeles said.

According to her, Faustino would assume the Defense secretary post on Nov. 13, 2022, in compliance with the one-year ban on the appointment of retired military officers under Republic Act 6975.

Faustino is a graduate of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1988 and a "well-respected Mindanao veteran who has served under the special forces, infantry, and intelligence posts," Angeles said.

"He was also the commander of the Joint Task Force Mindanao and was a commanding General of the Philippine Army before being appointed AFP Chief of Staff," she added.

In a separate statement, outgoing Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said he is confident that Faustino, who retired from the military in November last year, "will continue the Department's momentum in our internal security and external defense operations, as well as the modernization of the armed forces and the entire defense organization."

The Armed Forces of the Philippines meanwhile, also welcomed Faustino's appointment.

"The AFP welcomes the appointment of Gen Jose C Faustino Jr (RET) as OIC, DND under the Marcos administration. His over 38 years of military service that culminated in him being the AFP CS gave him exclusive and firsthand knowledge of the country's security and defense situation," AFP spokesperson Colonel Ramon Zagala said on Saturday in a tweet.

The AFP welcomes the appointment of Gen Jose C Faustino Jr (RET) as OIC, DND under the Marcos administration. His over 38 years of military service that culminated in him being the AFP CS gave him exclusive and firsthand knowledge of the country's security and defense situation.

— Col Ramon P Zagala, AFP Spokesperson (@DemyZagala) June 18, 2022

—KBK/KG, GMA News