PRESIDENT Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has reappointed Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual after the Commission on Appointments (CA) again bypassed his designation as a member of the Cabinet.
Marcos administered the oath of office to Pascual on Friday, December 16, in Malacañang.
Marcos made the announcement after Pascual failed to secure the confirmation of his appointment for the second time from the powerful congressional body, which adjourned its regular session on Wednesday as Congress went on a month-long holiday break.
Pascual was among the 14 members of the President's official family who were bypassed when the Senate and the House of Representatives went on recess in September.
In May, the President tapped Pascual, former president of the University of the Philippines, to serve as his Trade secretary.
Pascual, 74, was an adviser to various organizations, including the Philippine Institute for Development Studies and the World Health Organization.
The development banker and finance expert was also an independent director for Megawide Construction Corp. and lead independent director of SM Investments Corp.
