Executive Secretary (Philippines)

The Office of the Executive Secretary of the Philippines (formerly the Executive Office) is the head and highest-ranking official of the Office of the President of the Philippines and a member of the Cabinet of the Philippines. The office-holder has been nicknamed as the "Little President" due to the nature of the position. It was given the mandate "to directly assist the President in the management of affairs of the government as well as to direct the operations of the Executive Office." It is headed by the Executive Secretary in which appointed by the President upon confirmation by the Commission on Appointments.

Office of the Executive Secretary
Tanggapan ng Kalihim Tagapagpaganap
Seal
Cabinet overview
FormedOctober 12, 1936
Cabinet executives
  • Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin (Ret.), Executive Secretary
  • Usec. Charito A. Zamora, Senior Deputy Executive Secretary
  • Usec. Hubert Guevarra, Senior Deputy Executive Secretary
Parent CabinetOffice of the President
WebsiteOffice of the Executive Secretary

The office was established on October 12, 1936, with Jorge B. Vargas as the inaugural holder.[1]

The incumbent Executive Secretary is retired Chief Justice and GSIS Chairman Lucas Bersamin, who was appointed to the post on September 27, 2022, days after the resignation of his predecessor Vic Rodriguez.[2]

Powers and duties edit

In Book III, Chapter 9, Section 27 of Executive Order No. 292, the Administrative Code of the Philippines,[3] the role of the Executive Secretary was defined as:

Sec. 27. Functions of the Executive Secretary. - The Executive Secretary shall, subject to the control and supervision of the President, carry out the functions assigned by law to the Executive Office and shall perform such other duties as may be delegated to him. He shall:

  1. Directly assist the President in the management of the affairs pertaining to the Government of the Republic of the Philippines;
  2. Implement presidential directives, orders and decisions;
  3. Decide, for and in behalf of the President, matters not requiring personal presidential attention;
  4. Exercise supervision and control over the various units in the Office of the President Proper including their internal administrative requirements;
  5. Exercise supervision, in behalf of the President, over the various agencies under the Office of the President;
  6. Appoint officials and employees of the Office of the President whose appointments are not vested in the President;
  7. Provide overall coordination in the operation of the Executive Office;
  8. Determine and assign matters to the appropriate units in the Office of the President;
  9. Have administrative responsibility for matters in the Office of the President coming from the various departments and agencies of government;
  10. Exercise primary authority to sign papers "By authority of the President", attest executive orders and other presidential issuances unless attestation is specifically delegated to other officials by him or by the President;
  11. Determine, with the President's approval, the appropriate assignment of offices and agencies not placed by law under any specific executive department;
  12. Provide consultative, research, fact-finding and advisory service to the President;
  13. Assist the President in the performance of functions pertaining to legislation;
  14. Assist the President in the administration of special projects;
  15. Take charge of matters pertaining to protocol in State and ceremonial functions;
  16. Provide secretarial and clerical services for the President, the Cabinet, the Council of State, and other advisory bodies to the President
  17. Promulgate such rules and regulations necessary to carry out the objectives, policies and functions of the Office of the President Proper;
  18. Perform such other functions as the President may direct.

The Executive Secretary possesses so much power since the holder of the office is the chief alter-ego of the President of the Philippines, the Chief Executive. The Executive Secretary can issue orders in the name of the President, can review and modify decisions of other cabinet secretaries on appeal and can perform numerous other functions as allowed or delegated by the Chief Executive. The Executive Secretary, can also be the top coordinator of the activities of the Executive Branch of the government, if necessary.

List of Executive Secretaries edit

Executive Secretary
Kalihim ng Pangulo
Incumbent
Ret. Chief Justice Lucas P. Bersamin
since September 27, 2022
AppointerThe President with the consent of the Commission on Appointments
Term lengthAt the President's pleasure
Inaugural holderJorge Vargas
FormationOctober 12, 1936
#NameTerm startedTerm endedPresidentEra
Secretaries to the PresidentCommonwealth
(in exile)
1Jorge VargasOctober 12, 1936December 11, 1941Manuel L. Quezon[4]
2Manuel RoxasDecember 24, 1941March 26, 1942
3Arturo RotorJune 13, 1942November 30, 1944
Executive SecretariesSecond Republic
4Jose GilOctober 14, 1943August 30, 1944Jose P. Laurel[1][5]
5Emilio AbelloAugust 31, 1944February 27, 1945
Secretaries to the PresidentCommonwealth
(restored)
6Jose S. ReyesFebruary 27, 1945May 24, 1946Sergio Osmeña[6]
7Emilio AbelloMay 30, 1946July 4, 1946Manuel Roxas[7]
Chiefs of the Executive OfficeThird Republic/Fourth Republic
(7)Emilio AbelloJuly 4, 1946September 3, 1947Manuel Roxas
8Nicanor RoxasSeptember 10, 1947October 3, 1947
Executive Secretaries
ActNicanor RoxasOctober 4, 1947February 6, 1948Manuel Roxas
9Emilio AbelloFebruary 26, 1948April 17, 1948
April 17, 1948September 14, 1948Elpidio Quirino[8]
10Teodoro EvangelistaSeptember 16, 1948May 8, 1951
11Marciano RoqueFebruary 2, 1952December 29, 1953
12Fred Ruiz CastroDecember 30, 1953October 26, 1955Ramon Magsaysay[9]
13Fortunato de LeonApril 12, 1956March 17, 1957
March 17, 1957December 30, 1957Carlos P. Garcia[10]
14Juan PajoJanuary 16, 1958August 28, 1959
15Natalio CastilloJanuary 24, 1960September 5, 1961
16Rafael M. SalasJanuary 1, 1966July 24, 1969Ferdinand Marcos[11]
17Ernesto MacedaJuly 26, 1969February 7, 1970
18Alejandro Melchor Jr.[12]February 9, 1970November 4, 1974
19Ponciano MathayNovember 7, 1974December 7, 1975
Presidential Executive Assistants
20Jacobo ClaveDecember 8, 1975December 23, 1979Ferdinand Marcos
21Juan TuveraDecember 30, 1979February 22, 1986
22Joker ArroyoFebruary 25, 1986March 25, 1986Corazon Aquino
Executive SecretariesFifth Republic
(22)Joker ArroyoMarch 25, 1986September 15, 1987Corazon Aquino[13]
23Catalino Macaraig Jr.September 17, 1987December 14, 1990
24Oscar OrbosDecember 16, 1990July 14, 1991
25Franklin DrilonJuly 15, 1991June 30, 1992
Act.Peter D. Garrucho Jr.July 1, 1992September 13, 1992Fidel V. Ramos[14]
26Edelmiro AmanteSeptember 14, 1992June 30, 1993
27Teofisto Guingona Jr.July 6, 1993May 19, 1995
28Ruben TorresMay 20, 1995January 8, 1998
29Alexander AguirreJanuary 9, 1998June 30, 1998
30Ronaldo ZamoraJuly 1, 1998December 31, 2000Joseph Ejercito Estrada[15]
31Edgardo AngaraJanuary 6, 2001January 21, 2001
32Renato de VillaJanuary 22, 2001May 7, 2001Gloria Macapagal Arroyo[16]
33Alberto RomuloMay 8, 2001August 24, 2004
34Eduardo ErmitaAugust 24, 2004February 23, 2010
35Leandro MendozaFebruary 24, 2010June 30, 2010
36Paquito Ochoa Jr.June 30, 2010June 30, 2016Benigno Aquino III[17]
37Salvador MedialdeaJune 30, 2016June 30, 2022Rodrigo Duterte[18]
38Atty. Victor D. RodriguezJune 30, 2022September 17, 2022Bongbong Marcos
39Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin (Ret.)[2]September 27, 2022present

References edit

  1. ^ a b "The Executive Secretary". Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. Retrieved 6 November 2012.
  2. ^ a b Valente, Catherine S. (2022-09-27). "Bersamin is Marcos' new executive secretary". The Manila Times. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
  3. ^ "Executive Order No. 292 Instituting the Administrative Code of 1987". Cahn Robles Virtual Law Library. Retrieved 6 November 2012.
  4. ^ "Manuel L. Quezon - Presidential Museum and Library". Archived from the original on 26 October 2012. Retrieved 27 October 2012.
  5. ^ "Jose P. Laurel - Presidential Museum and Library". Archived from the original on 23 March 2016. Retrieved 10 November 2012.
  6. ^ "Sergio Osmeña - Presidential Museum and Library". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 27 October 2012.
  7. ^ "Manuel Roxas - Presidential Museum and Library". Archived from the original on 4 November 2012. Retrieved 27 October 2012.
  8. ^ "Elpidio Quirino - Presidential Museum and Library". Archived from the original on 4 November 2012. Retrieved 27 October 2012.
  9. ^ "Ramon Magsaysay - Presidential Museum and Library". Archived from the original on 14 May 2016. Retrieved 27 October 2012.
  10. ^ "Carlos P. Garcia - Presidential Museum and Library". Archived from the original on 4 November 2012. Retrieved 27 October 2012.
  11. ^ "Ferdinand E. Marcos - Presidential Museum and Library". Retrieved 27 October 2012.
  12. ^ http://findarticles.com/p/news-articles/manila-bulletin/mi_7968/is_2002_July_14/heros-burial-melchor-set/ai_n33178343/ [bare URL]
  13. ^ "Corazon C. Aquino - Presidential Museum and Library". Archived from the original on 4 November 2012. Retrieved 27 October 2012.
  14. ^ "Fidel V. Ramos - Presidential Museum and Library". Archived from the original on 23 March 2016. Retrieved 27 October 2012.
  15. ^ "Joseph Ejercito Estrada - Presidential Museum and Library". Archived from the original on 14 May 2016. Retrieved 27 October 2012.
  16. ^ "Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo - Presidential Museum and Library". Archived from the original on 4 November 2012. Retrieved 27 October 2012.
  17. ^ "Benigno S. Aquino III - Presidential Museum and Library". Archived from the original on 4 November 2012. Retrieved 27 October 2012.
  18. ^ Ranada, P. (16 May 2016). "Medialdea is executive secretary, Panelo is spokesman". Rappler. Retrieved 30 June 2016.