Two more names have been added to the cabinet of incoming President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. — University of the Philippines (UP) Prof. Clarita Carlos as National Security Asviser, and ABONO party-list Rep. Conrado Estrella III as d Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) secretary.
The two have both accepted Marcos’ invitation. Carlos is a retired UP political science professor. She served as the first female, civilian president of the National Defense College of the Philippines.
Carlos has authored books and papers about political parties, elections, defense and security, and foreign policy, among others. She also served as a consultant in Congress and other government agencies, including the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process.
Estrella of Abono party-list, for his part is one of the House deputy speakers of the 18th Congress. He first served as Pangasinan 6th district representative in Congress in 1987 to 1995, and 2001 to 2010.
Estrella returned to the House of Representatives as ABONO party-list representative in 2013. Previously, he served as chief of the National Electrification Administration.
Marcos’ Cabinets now has 15 members — his long-time chief of staff and spokesperson Vic Rodriguez as Executive Secretary, Vice President-elect Sara Duterte-Carpio as Education secretary, and Davao del Norte Rep. Anton Lagdameo Jr. as Special Assistant to the President;
Arsenio Balisacan as National Economic and Development Authority secretary, Benjamin Diokno as Finance secretary, Alfred Pascual as Trade Secretary, Beatrix Rose “Trixie” Cruz-Angeles as Press secretary,\and Cavite Rep. Jesus Crispin Remulla as Justice secretary.
The others are Bienvenido Laguesma as Labor secretary, Susan Ople as Migrant Workers secretary, Manuel Bonoan as Public Works secretary, Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. as Interior secretary, and Felipe Medalla as Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas governor.