Philippine President-elect Duterte unveils Cabinet made up of 'men of integrity'

An eclectic mix of leftists, academics and close friends has formed Filipino President-elect Rodrigo Duterte's new Cabinet, which he unveiled yesterday at a news conference.

"I assure you, these are all men of integrity and honesty," Mr Duterte said, shortly after presiding over his first Cabinet meeting in Davao City, 970km south of the capital Manila.

The 71-year-old former Davao City mayor, who won a landslide victory last month after a controversial campaign, has been praised for several of the appointments.

Three of them - finance minister Carlos Dominguez, budget minister Benjamin Diokno and labour minister Silvestre Bello - held Cabinet positions under former presidents Corazon Aquino, Fidel Ramos and Joseph Estrada.

Mr Duterte's choice for social welfare minister, culled from a list submitted by his communist allies, has also been given the thumbs-up.

Ms Judy Taguiwalo is a University of the Philippines professor, women's rights advocate and a former political prisoner in the years when dictator Ferdinand Marcos was president.

(THE STRAITS TIMES)