Special Assistant to the President (Philippines)

Special Assistant to the President

Office seal

Incumbent
Antonio Lagdameo Jr.

since June 30, 2022

Abbreviation| SAP
Member of| Cabinet
Reports to| President of the Philippines
Appointer| President of the Philippines
Constituting instrument| Executive Order No. 1
Formation| June 30, 2016

The special assistant to the president (SAP) is the official aide of the president of the Philippines. The holder of the position leads the Office of the Special Assistant to the President (OSAP). The SAP provides general supervision to the Presidential Management Staff.[1]

## History

[edit]

### Duterte administration

[edit]

President Rodrigo Duterte appointed Christopher "Bong" Go, a close personal aide of his prior to his presidency, as the Special Assistant to the President (SAP) upon assuming office as the chief executive of the Philippines in 2016.[1] Duterte issued Executive Order No. 1 tasking the SAP to oversee the Office of the Special Assistant to the President (OSAP) as well as the Office of the Appointments Secretary, and the Presidential Management Staff.[2] Go would resign from his post two years later on October 15, 2018, to pursue a bid to be elected as senator in the 2019 elections,[3] although he remained at duty of his functions as SAP in an unofficial capacity until his replacement was officially declared by President Rodrigo Duterte himself.[4]

On November 9, 2018, Jesus Melchor Quitain took over the Office of the Special Assistant to the President (OSAP) as its Officer in Charge.[5][6]

### Marcos Jr. administration

[edit]

President Bongbong Marcos appointed Antonio Lagdameo Jr., a known business associate of Marcos as the Special Assistant to the President (SAP) upon assuming the presidency in 2022. Lagdameo was also the largest individual donor to the Marcos' 2022 presidential campaign, contributing more than ₱240 million to the campaign.[7][8]

## Officeholders

[edit]

No.  | Name  | Term of office  | President

|
|
|

1. | Bong Go | June 30, 2016 – October 15, 2018  | Rodrigo Duterte
*  | Ferdinand B. Cui Jr. (OIC)  | October 15, 2018 – November 9, 2018
*  | Jesus Melchor Quitain (OIC) | November 9, 2018 – June 30, 2022
2. | Antonio Lagdameo Jr. | June 30, 2022 – Present | Bongbong Marcos

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Diola, Camille (June 3, 2016). "Duterte appoints closest aide, broadcaster to Palace posts". The Philippine Star. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
2. ^ Duterte, Rodrigo. "Executive Order No. 1" (PDF). Retrieved May 29, 2021.
3. ^ Gita, Ruth Abbey (November 12, 2018). "Ex-Davao administrator named Bong Go's replacement". Sunstar. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
4. ^ Mellejor, Lilian (October 20, 2018). "Go says he is now 'Special Assistant to the People'". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
5. ^ "Duterte appoints Jesus Melchor Quitain as new special assistant". ABS-CBN News. November 12, 2018. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
6. ^ Esguerra, Darryl John (November 12, 2018). "Quitain named Special Assistant to the President OIC". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
7. ^ Ilagan, Karol; Lopez, Elyssa (August 31, 2022). "Marcos return to Malacañang funded by donors linked to father's 'cronies', gov't contractors". Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism. Retrieved September 17, 2022.
8. ^ Cabanban, Seth (May 27, 2022). "The #MarcosCabinet: Anton Lagdameo Jr, Special Assistant to the President". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved May 28, 2022.

*[OIC]: Officer in Charge