MANILA - Who will be the next Foreign Affairs secretary?

President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday said the public should ask Permanent Representative to the United Nations Teddy Boy Locsin.

Duterte earlier refused to name the replacement for Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, who seeks to run in the 2019 midterm elections.

"I don’t know, baka ayaw niya i-announce, I don’t have his permission. Mahirap kasi if I give out his name tapos tatanggapin niya. Bong (Go), tawagan mo nga si Teddy Boy Locsin, sabihin mo kung [pwede] i-mention pangalan niya dito?" Duterte told reporters in Davao City.

"I don’t know. Okay na? Okay na sabi niya, there’s a more powerful guy. Next time don’t ask me questions, you ask him,” pointing to Special Assistant to the President Bong Go.

Prior to becoming an ambassador, Locsin was an ABS-CBN journalist, and a former lawmaker and newspaper publisher.

He served as Makati representative from 2001 to 2010.

Locsin also served as speechwriter and press secretary of then President Corazon Aquino after the People Power Revolution against the Marcos dictatorship.

He has yet to reply to ABS-CBN News's query regarding Duterte possibly appointing him as next Foreign Affairs secretary.

Duterte earlier announced Cayetano's bid to run as congressman of Taguig City in next year's polls.

• Cayetano to run in 2019 polls; Duterte says next DFA chief identified

Cayetano aims to replace his older sister Taguig 2nd District Rep. Pia Cayetano, who seeks a Senate comeback.