DAVAO CITY, Philippines – As President Rodrigo Duterte prepares to leave the country to attend his first international summit, Malacañang announces that he has delegated Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea as the caretaker officer in his absence.

“The caretaker officer while our President is in another country will be Executive Secretary Bingbong Medialdea,” said Communications Secretary Martin Andanar on Sunday, September 4, in an interview aired on government-run radio station DZRB.

When the President is out of the country, a caretaker officer is usually assigned to oversee matters until the President’s return. Usually, the caretaker officer may be the executive secretary, often called the “Little President,” or the Vice President.

Duterte is set to fly to Laos on Monday afternoon, September 5, in time for the Association of Southeat Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit to be held from September 6 to 8.

So far, Duterte’s trip to Indonesia, set to take place from September 8 to 9, is pushing through.

The President earlier postponed his Brunei trip, supposed to take place from September 4 to 5, after a deadly explosion in Davao City that occurred the night before he was supposed to leave.

Duterte decided to stay in Davao City where he met with law enforcement and intelligence agencies hours after the blast.

The blast prompted him to declare a “state of lawlessness” or “state of lawless violence.”

The Palace is expected to release the official written proclamation on Monday, September 5, said Andanar. – Rappler.com