What Cabinet post? Marcoleta chooses House comeback


After weeks of speculation as to which Cabinet post SAGIP Party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta would get from President-elect Bongbong Marcos, it seems that the one-time UniTeam Senate bet has settled back "home", at the House of Representatives, at least for the meantime.

(Photo from Rodante Marcoleta's Facebook)

This, after Marcoleta shared on his Facebook pictures of his oath-taking as SAGIP Party-List representative in the upcoming 19th Congress.

"Deputy Speaker Rodante Marcoleta and incoming Congresswoman Caroline Tanchay took their oath as SAGIP Party-List Representatives before Supreme Court Associate Justice Jose Midas P. Marquez," read his post.

Marcoleta served as deputy speaker during the just-concluded 18th Congress.

Marcoleta was part of the UniTeam senatorial slate under Marcos but backed out weeks before the May 9 polls. Marcos won a majority mandate in the presidential race.

Marcos was expected to give Marcoleta a place in the Cabinet, at least pundits did.

In an interview last May 26, the President-elect confirmed that Marcoleta was at the very least being considered for a Cabinet post.

(Photo from Rodante Marcoleta's Facebook)

But Marcos also knew that Marcoleta could opt to become a congressman again, in light of SAGIP Party-list's successful bid in the party-list race.

“Now I understand that in his particular situation, mayroon pa siyang opportunity mag-congressman doon sa party-list (he still has a chance to become party-list congressman). So he would have to decide there, that’s his decision to make. So pag-uusapan namin ulit (We will talk about it again),” the incoming Chief Executive said.

It should be noted, however, that the President can still appoint a sitting congressman to the Cabinet, but the latter must leave his or her House seat.