Duterte eyes close allies, ex-soldiers in Cabinet

Joel Guinto, ABS-CBN News

Posted at 09 May 2016 11:48 PM | Updated as of 10 May 2016 01:29 AM

Jesus Dureza and Presidential frontrunner Rodrigo Duterte

DAVAO CITY – Presidential frontrunner Rodrigo Duterte said Monday he was considering close friends and former military men in his Cabinet, providing the first glimpses at the government that the maverick mayor is forming.

Duterte said he was considering hotelier and former agriculture secretary Carlos Dominguez as his finance or transportation secretary, while former presidential peace adviser Jesus Dureza would be taken in for his experience in Mindanao affairs.

His running mate, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, could be named foreign secretary, he said. Cayetano, who is trailing in the vice-presidential count, has three years left in his Senate term and could not be appointed to a government post within a year after the elections.

“He's my boyhood chum and neighbor namin. We grew up together,” Duterte said of Dominguez, owner of the Marco Polo Hotel in this city.

“Pinaka-corrupt ang DOTC (Department of Transportation and Communications) but do not be surprised if almost all others are military people,” he added.

“I want military men and most of them will occupy lower echelons,” he said, as he brought up the name of retired police general Isidro Lapena.

Dureza knows the "entrails of Mindanao," he said, adding his former classmate had an average grade of 94 compared to his 75.

Campaign spokesman Peter Laviña will keep his post, but will be based in Davao, Duterte said. He added that lawyer Salvador Panelo would be his spokesman in the capital.

Campaign manager Leoncio Evasco “will stay beside me,” Duterte said, without giving details.