The chiefs and vice chiefs of government agencies in the security sector met Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio on Monday, Sept. 5, in a command conference to discuss the country's peace and order and security situation.
This, as Duterte-Carpio was designated as the officer-in-charge (OIC) while President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was scheduled for state visits to Indonesia and Singapore this week.
“We were just invited for a lunch. We were called because the President was out of the country and she’s the designated overseer of the Office of the President,” Lt. Gen. Bartolome Vicente Bacarro, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), told reporters.
Bacarro was among those present during the command conference held at the main office of the Department of Education (DepEd) in Pasig City. Duterte-Carpio also concurrently serves as the DepEd Secretary.
Aside from Bacarro, others in attendance were Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. Commanding General of the Philippine Army (PA); Maj. Gen. Arthur Cordura, acting Commanding General of the Philippine Air Force (PAF); Rear Adm. Caesar Bernard Valencia, Vice Commander of the Philippine Navy (PN); Adm. Artemio Abu, Commandant of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG); Fire Director Louie Puracan, Chief of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP); Jail Director Allan Iral, Chief of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP); and Lt. Gen. Jose Chiquito Malayo, Deputy Chief for Administration of the Philippine National Police (PNP).
During the meeting, the security chiefs discussed with Duterte-Carpio the security and peace and order situation in the country, as well as how it would be maintained until Marcos comes back from his state visits.
Marcos is currently visiting Indonesia and Singapore from Sept. 4 to 7.
While he is out of the country, Duterte-Carpio was designated as the country’s OIC. She was assigned to take care of the day-to-day operations in the Office of the President and oversee the general administration of the Executive Department.