SENATOR Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan II will be the new secretary of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said on Saturday, November 3.

Sotto said President Rodrigo Duterte himself told Honasan that he wanted him to take the helm at the said agency.

"Oo, nasabi na sa kanya yan. Dati, parang drinibol lang kasi. Baka kailangan pa namin ng kasama. Pero nitong huling pag-uusap, sabi ni Presidente, pirmahan ko na," Sotto said.

Honasan, a retired Army officer who played a key role in the 1986 People Power Revolution and later led coup attempts against the late President Corazon C. Aquino.

The Commission on Appointments may begin hearing Honasan’s confirmation as DICT secretary once they resume sessions by November.

Sotto said that as early as now, Honasan has been researching and preparing for his new position.

However, Sotto said Honasan may still continue to function as a lawmaker pending the approval of his appointment to the DICT.

"Wala naman (epekto), 22 (na senador) pa rin ‘yun. Pero pagka boboto kailangan pa rin 16. Ang 2/3 vote ay 16," the Senate President said.

Honasan will be replacing DICT acting secretary Eliseo Rio Jr., who assumed office following the resignation of DICT secretary Rodolfo Salalima in September 2017. (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo/SunStar Philippines)