President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed former Senator Francis Tolentino as acting Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), replacing Bienvenido Laguesma.

This was announced by Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro at a Palace press briefing on Monday.

“Tiwala si Pangulong Marcos Jr. na mapamumunuan ni incoming Acting Secretary Tolentino ang DOLE dahil sa kanyang kakayahan at malawak na karanasan sa paghawak ng mahahalagang tungkulin sa pamahalaan, lokal o nasyonal,” Castro said.

Tolentino, the Senate majority leader in the 19th Congress, lost his re-election bid last year.

The Palace official explained that the appointment of an acting labor secretary was prompted by Laguesma’s health condition.

“Dahil po sa kanyang health condition, kaya kailangan magkaroon at magtalaga ng acting labor secretary,” she said.

Asked whether Laguesma would be appointed to a different post, Castro said she could not preempt the President’s decision, adding that it would also depend on Laguesma’s health condition. Presidential News Desk