TOKYO, Japan — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday said more appointments to his administration may be forthcoming following the expiration of the one-year prohibition on appointing candidates who lost in the previous elections.
Speaking to Filipino journalists in Tokyo, Marcos said former election candidates could be considered for government positions, including Cabinet posts.
“Possibly, possibly. Because the one-year ban for candidates that did not make it in the last election has lapsed,” Marcos said when asked whether additional appointments could be expected in the coming days.
“So, don’t be surprised if we start getting more appointments from those candidates who ran in the last election and didn’t make it,” he added.
Marcos said the government should tap qualified individuals regardless of their election results.
“We have to get the best talent that we can,” he said. “So yes, that’s a natural progression.”
The President made the remarks as he concluded a state visit to Japan.
The latest Cabinet reshuffle occurred last week when former senator Francis Tolentino was appointed secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment, replacing Bienvenido Laguesma.
In the same interview, Marcos dismissed speculation that Jonvic Remulla would be replaced as head of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, saying the reports were not true.