Marcos picks Clarita Carlos as National Security Adviser, Conrado Estrella as DAR chief

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 8)— Retired University of the Philippines professor Clarita Carlos and former ABONO party-list Rep. Conrado Estrella III are the newest members of the Cabinet of President-elect Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.

Marcos' camp confirmed on Wednesday that Carlos and Estrella will be serving as the next National Security Adviser and Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) secretary, respectively.

Both Carlos and Estrella formalized their appointments during a meeting with Marcos earlier in the day.

Marcos previously confirmed that his camp had been carrying out consultations with Carlos, adding that they were only waiting for her decision as to which government post she thinks she would fit best.

Carlos, a former political science professor, currently heads the think tank Center for Political and Democratic Reform, Inc.

Estrella, on the other hand, served as a Deputy Speaker under the 18th Congress.

He is the grandson of Conrado Estrella Sr., who was also the agrarian reform chief of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr.

Estrella was among the lawmakers charged in 2015 for alleged involvement in the pork barrel scam which he had denied.