MANILA – Sen. Gregorio Honasan is set to step down as a senator after accepting the offer of President Rodrigo Duterte to become the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) secretary.
The 70-year-old Honasan, who still has a year left in his current term in the Senate, made the confirmation in a statement sent to the media on Friday
“For a better Philippines, a better government, for the Filipino People, and for a better future for our most precious Children; I have decided to accept the offer of the President to help lead the DICT,” Honasan said.
“Upon appointment, confirmation by the (Commission on Appointment), and oath-taking which triggers my automatic resignation from the Senate,” he added.
Honasan becomes the second senator of the 17th Congress to relinquish a Senate seat and join President Duterte’s Cabinet after former Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) secretary Alan Peter Cayetano.
Following the exit of Honasan, the Senate will now be left with only 22 members, including Sen. Leila de Lima, who is currently detained in Camp Crame for illegal drug trade charges.
Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo has welcomed Honasan’s acceptance of the DICT post, noting its timeliness with the entry of the new third telecommunication provider in the country, Mislatel.
“With the entry of a provisional new major player in the telecommunications industry, we are confident that the senator would provide good direction and sound management to DICT,” Panelo said./PN
