Wednesday, May 11, 2016

Duterte camp prepares for transition



Metro Manila — With an apparent presidential win, the Duterte camp is now focusing on taking over the country's leadership.

Peter Laviña, spokesperson for Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, said on Tuesday (May 10) that there would be four groups to be formed to ensure a smooth transition.

The first group, the overall transition committee. This group will directly coordinate with the current administration and also reach out to the embassies of countries which have been mentioned in some of the mayor's campaign speeches: the U.S., Australia and Singapore.

The second group, the selection committee which is tasked to vet possible members of the Cabinet..
This early, though, Duterte has names in mind. He says schoolmates Carlos Domingues and Arturo Tugadi will be part of his economic team.

The two were actually with the mayor the night before at the compound of Davao -based religious leader Apollo Quiboloy.

Duterte offered the Foreign Affairs post to Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano but the senator has yet to accept, especially since he could not be part of the Cabinet until after a year.

Other names that surfaced, Jesus Dureza; lawyer Sal Panelo and Laviña, who will be spokespersons.
The third group, the policy group, will oversee key programs to be carried out in the new administration's first 100 days, and also, within 3 to 6 months.

The fourth group will be in charge of arranging Duterte's inauguration.

Key programs that will require a national consensus have also been identified — a 24/7 fight against drugs and crime, the proposed shift to a parliamentary-federal form of government and the peace deals to be made with all rebel groups.

Laviña said imposing a nationwide 10 p.m. curfew for unsupervised minors and a liquor ban from 1 a.m. to 8 a.m., similar to Davao, might also be considered.

"I think measures can be adopted nationwide, of course, after consultation with all concerned parties," the spokesman said. "He can do it by executive order, but the best is democratic process of legislating these measures."

For a candidate who promised change as soon as he steps in, time is of the essence.

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