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.

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

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
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
# Name Term started Term ended President Era
Secretaries to the President Commonwealth
(in exile)
1 Jorge Vargas October 12, 1936 December 11, 1941 Manuel L. Quezon[4]
2 Manuel Roxas December 24, 1941 March 26, 1942
3 Arturo Rotor June 13, 1942 November 30, 1944
Executive Secretaries Second Republic
4 Jose Gil October 14, 1943 August 30, 1944 Jose P. Laurel[1][5]
5 Emilio Abello August 31, 1944 February 27, 1945
Secretaries to the President Commonwealth
(restored)
6 Jose S. Reyes February 27, 1945 May 24, 1946 Sergio Osmeña[6]
7 Emilio Abello May 30, 1946 July 4, 1946 Manuel Roxas[7]
Chiefs of the Executive Office Third Republic/Fourth Republic
(7) Emilio Abello July 4, 1946 September 3, 1947 Manuel Roxas
8 Nicanor Roxas September 10, 1947 October 3, 1947
Executive Secretaries
Act Nicanor Roxas October 4, 1947 February 6, 1948 Manuel Roxas
9 Emilio Abello February 26, 1948 April 17, 1948
April 17, 1948 September 14, 1948 Elpidio Quirino[8]
10 Teodoro Evangelista September 16, 1948 May 8, 1951
11 Marciano Roque February 2, 1952 December 29, 1953
12 Fred Ruiz Castro December 30, 1953 October 26, 1955 Ramon Magsaysay[9]
13 Fortunato de Leon April 12, 1956 March 17, 1957
March 17, 1957 December 30, 1957 Carlos P. Garcia[10]
14 Juan Pajo January 16, 1958 August 28, 1959
15 Natalio Castillo January 24, 1960 September 5, 1961
16 Rafael M. Salas January 1, 1966 July 24, 1969 Ferdinand Marcos[11]
17 Ernesto Maceda July 26, 1969 February 7, 1970
18 Alejandro Melchor Jr.[12] February 9, 1970 November 4, 1974
19 Ponciano Mathay November 7, 1974 December 7, 1975
Presidential Executive Assistants
20 Jacobo Clave December 8, 1975 December 23, 1979 Ferdinand Marcos
21 Juan Tuvera December 30, 1979 February 22, 1986
22 Joker Arroyo February 25, 1986 March 25, 1986 Corazon Aquino
Executive Secretaries Fifth Republic
(22) Joker Arroyo March 25, 1986 September 15, 1987 Corazon Aquino[13]
23 Catalino Macaraig Jr. September 17, 1987 December 14, 1990
24 Oscar Orbos December 16, 1990 July 14, 1991
25 Franklin Drilon July 15, 1991 June 30, 1992
26 Peter Garrucho July 1, 1992 September 13, 1992 Fidel V. Ramos[14]
27 Edelmiro Amante September 14, 1992 June 30, 1993
28 Teofisto Guingona Jr. July 6, 1993 May 19, 1995
29 Ruben Torres May 20, 1995 January 8, 1998
30 Alexander Aguirre January 9, 1998 June 30, 1998
31 Ronaldo Zamora July 1, 1998 December 31, 2000 Joseph Ejercito Estrada[15]
32 Edgardo Angara January 6, 2001 January 21, 2001
33 Renato de Villa January 22, 2001 May 7, 2001 Gloria Macapagal Arroyo[16]
34 Alberto Romulo May 8, 2001 August 24, 2004
35 Eduardo Ermita August 24, 2004 February 23, 2010
36 Leandro Mendoza February 24, 2010 June 30, 2010
37 Paquito Ochoa Jr. June 30, 2010 June 30, 2016 Benigno Aquino III[17]
38 Salvador Medialdea June 30, 2016 June 30, 2022 Rodrigo Duterte[18]
39 Atty. Victor Rodriguez June 30, 2022 September 17, 2022 Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
40 Ret. Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin[2] September 27, 2022 present

References
  1. "The Executive Secretary". Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. Retrieved 6 November 2012.
  2. 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/
  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". 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.
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