President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has designated three government officials to serve as “caretakers” of the country during his working visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) this week.
Presidential Communications Office Secretary Cesar Chavez announced that Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, and Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III will be part of the “caretaker committee” during the President’s foreign trip.
Marcos is set to meet UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan during his one-day visit on November 26, which aims to strengthen bilateral ties. The trip has been kept brief to allow the President to return immediately and oversee relief and reconstruction efforts in typhoon-hit areas.
Previously, Vice President Sara Duterte took on the role during the President’s foreign engagements. However, the two top officials are facing a rift after Duterte’s alleged assassination threats against the First Couple, which forced Malacañang to heighten security measures for the Marcos family.
But this is not the first instance that Duterte was bypassed, as President Marcos also opted not to designate her as the caretaker during his trip to Laos for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summits.
