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.
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.
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.