Executive Secretary (Philippines)

Executive Secretary
Incumbent Paquito Ochoa, Jr. since June 30, 2010
Inaugural holder	Jorge B. Vargas
Formation	January 30, 1936
Website	http://www.president.gov.ph

The Executive Secretary of the Philippines (formerly known as the Secretary to the President or Chief of the Executive Office) is the head and highest ranking official serving in Cabinet of the Philippines and the head of the Office of the President of the Philippines. The office-holder has been nicknamed as the "Little President" due to the nature of the position. The office was established on January 30, 1936, with Jorge B. Vargas as the inaugural holder.

The current Executive Secretary is Paquito Ochoa, Jr., serving in this position since June 30, 2010, when President Benigno S. Aquino III was inaugurated.

Powers and duties

In Book III, Chapter 9, Section 27 of Executive Order No. 292, the Administrative Code of the Philippines, the role of the Executive Secretary was defined as:

“

Sec. 27. Functions of the Executive Secretary. - The Executive Secretary shall, subject to the control and supervision of the President, carry out the functions assigned by law to the Executive Office and shall perform such other duties as may be delegated to him. He shall: Directly assist the President in the management of the affairs pertaining to the Government of the Republic of the Philippines; Implement presidential directives, orders and decisions; Decide, for and in behalf of the President, matters not requiring personal presidential attention; Exercise supervision and control over the various units in the Office of the President Proper including their internal administrative requirements; Exercise supervision, in behalf of the President, over the various agencies under the Office of the President; Appoint officials and employees of the Office of the President whose appointments are not vested in the President; Provide overall coordination in the operation of the Executive Office; Determine and assign matters to the appropriate units in the Office of the President; Have administrative responsibility for matters in the Office of the President coming from the various departments and agencies of government; Exercise primary authority to sign papers "By authority of the President", attest executive orders and other presidential issuances unless attestation is specifically delegated to other officials by him or by the President; Determine, with the President's approval, the appropriate assignment of offices and agencies not placed by law under any specific executive department; Provide consultative, research, fact-finding and advisory service to the President; Assist the President in the performance of functions pertaining to legislation; Assist the President in the administration of special projects; Take charge of matters pertaining to protocol in State and ceremonial functions; Provide secretarial and clerical services for the President, the Cabinet, the Council of State, and other advisory bodies to the President Promulgate such rules and regulations necessary to carry out the objectives, policies and functions of the Office of the President Proper; Perform such other functions as the President may direct.

”

The Executive Secretary possesses much power since the holder of the office is the alter-ego of the President of the Philippines, the chief executive. The Executive Secretary can issue orders in the name of the President, can review and modify decisions of other cabinet secretaries on appeal and can perform numerous other functions as allowed or delegated by the chief executive.

List of Executive Secretaries

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Name	Term started	Term ended	President
Commonwealth of the Philippines
Jorge Vargas	1936	1941	Manuel L. Quezon
Manuel Roxas	1941	1942	Manuel L. Quezon
World War II
Commonwealth of the Philippines (restored)
Arturo Rotor	1944	1945	Sergio Osmeña
Jose S. Reyes	1945	1946	Sergio Osmeña
Emilio Abello	May 1946	July 4, 1946	Manuel Roxas
Third Republic of the Philippines
Emilio Abello	July 4, 1946	1948	Manuel Roxas Elpidio Quirino
Teodoro Evangelista			Elpidio Quirino
Rafael M. Salas	1966	1969	Ferdinand Marcos
Alejandro Melchor Jr.			Ferdinand Marcos
Fifth Republic of the Philippines
Joker Arroyo	March 25, 1986	September 14, 1987	Corazon Aquino
Catalino Macaraig, Jr.	September 17, 1987	December 14, 1990	Corazon Aquino
Oscar Orbos	December 29, 1990	July 1991	Corazon Aquino
Franklin Drilon	1991	June 30, 1992	Corazon Aquino
Teofisto Guingona, Jr.	June 1993	May 20, 1995	Fidel V. Ramos
Edilmero Amante	1995	1995	Fidel V. Ramos
Reuben Torres	1995	1997	Fidel V. Ramos
Alexander Aguirre	1997	1998	Fidel V. Ramos
Ronaldo Zamora	June 30, 1998	January 6, 2001	Joseph Estrada
Edgardo Angara	January 6, 2001	January 20, 2001	Joseph Estrada
Renato de Villa	January 20, 2001	2002	Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Alberto Romulo	2002	August 23, 2004	Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Eduardo Ermita	August 24, 2004	February 23, 2010	Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Leandro Mendoza	February 23, 2010	June 30, 2010	Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Paquito Ochoa, Jr.	June 30, 2010	Present	Benigno Aquino III