Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra will be officer-in-charge while President Rodrigo Duterte is away for his second visit to Russia this week.
Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, by the authority of the President, signed on Oct. 1 Special Order 1061, designating Guevarra as OIC from October 1 to 6.
Guevarra was designated as OIC “to ensure continuity of government service” and “take care of day-to-day operations and oversee the general administration of the Executive Department.”
The order also noted that the DOJ chief must, if necessary, act for and on behalf of the President on matters that the President is required by the Constitution to act in person during the time he is out of the country.
All Guevarra’s acts, for and on behalf of the President, will be deemed acts of the President unless Duterte disapproves or reprobates them.
Duterte also designated Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Michael Ong as Acting Executive Secretary from October 1 to 6.
All departments, agencies, and instrumentalities of the government must assist Guevarra and Ong in the discharge of their respective functions.
Aside from Medialdea, also joining Duterte’s trip to Russia are secretaries Teodoro Locsin Jr. (Foreign Affairs), Carlos Dominguez III (Finance), William Dar (Agriculture), Silvestre Bello III (Labor), Delfin Lorenzana (Defense), Ramon Lopez (Trade), Roy Cimatu (Environment), Eduardo Año (Interior and Local Government), Fortunato dela Peña (Science and Technology), Alfonso Cusi (Energy), Jose Ruperto Martin Andanar (Communications), Hermogenes Esperon (National Security), Cabinet Secretary Karlo Alexei Nograles, Presidential Spokesperson Secretary Salvador Panelo, and Philippine Ambassador to Moscow Carlos Sorreta.
Duterte is expected to leave for Russia on Tuesday night.
Last Friday, Presidential Protocol Chief Robert Borje said aside from a bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Duterte’s Sochi visit will feature a speaking engagement at the prominent Valdai Forum where he will share Manila’s view on the emerging world order.
Duterte is set to visit the cities of Sochi and Moscow in Russia on October 1 to 5 upon the invitation of Putin.
The Chief Executive will also be speaking along with other world leaders at the plenary session of the Valdai Forum with the theme “The World Order Seen From the East” on October 3. (PNA)