PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday, November 8, confirmed that he had offered Senator Gregorio Honasan II to become the next secretary of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).
In a chance interview with reporters in Aklan, Duterte said Honasan has yet to accept his offer.
"I think he (Honasan) is considering the possibility. Ako naman (On my end), I invited him. Sabi ko (I told him), 'If you aren't doing anything and if you will not run again, so when will you join me in our quest for a better Philippines and a better government?'" Duterte said.
"I think he is toying with the idea of joining but I'm not sure if he has decided to actually join us," he added.
If he decides to be part of Duterte's Cabinet, Honasan would replace DICT acting secretary Eliseo Rio Jr. before the senator's second term ends in June 2019.
Honasan would continue to serve as senator until the Commission on Appointments confirms his nomination.
With his impending departure, the number of incumbent senators would go down to 22. In May 2017, former Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano left the Senate to lead the Department of Foreign Affairs.
A member of the Philippine Military Academy Class 1971, Honasan set up the Reform the Armed Forces Movement that recruited soldiers to rebel against the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos.
Honasan was also part of failed coup attempts against former President Corazon Aquino. (SunStar Philippines)