President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos have departed the country to attend the funeral of Pope Francis, prompting the designation of three top officials to manage national affairs during their absence.
Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin will take the lead in overseeing daily government operations, with support from Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla and Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III, according to a statement released on Thursday, April 24.
The First Couple was scheduled to leave Thursday night for Vatican City, where the funeral Mass for Pope Francis will take place at St. Peter’s Square on Saturday, April 26. The late pontiff passed away on April 21, Easter Monday, due to stroke and heart failure.
This marks another instance where Vice President Sara Duterte was not designated as caretaker. The same occurred in May 2024 during Marcos’ trip to Singapore. In October, Marcos clarified that Duterte is no longer part of the executive branch, although she remains a government official.
The death of Pope Francis has sparked widespread mourning across the Philippines, with many recalling his 2015 visit to Tacloban in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Yolanda. Known for his humility and inclusiveness, Francis served as pope for 12 years and was the first from the global south and the first Jesuit to lead the Catholic Church.
To honor his legacy, President Marcos declared a national mourning period from April 23 to April 26.
