MANILA – President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has maintained a considerable number of Cabinet officials as part of his administration’s continuous recalibration process.
As stated by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, this recent action represents the third phase of the “bold reset” in the administration’s ongoing assessment of its cabinet members.
Among those whose resignations were declined and will remain in their posts are Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III, Education Secretary Juan Edgardo Angara, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Director-General Jose Francisco Benitez, Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma, Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian, Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac, and Science and Technology Secretary Renato Solidum Jr.
Also keeping their posts are Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco, Information and Communications Technology Secretary Henry Aguda, Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon, Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan, Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile, Presidential Management Staff Secretary Elaine Masukat, Metro Manila Development Authority Chairman Romando Artes, Mindanao Development Authority Chairman Leo Tereso Magno, Presidential Adviser for Mindanao Concerns Secretary Antonio Cerilles, Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr., Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio, and National Treasurer Sharon Almanza.
“If you are asking for blood, there will still be blood,” Bersamin said. “We are still undertaking continuing performance evaluations… I assure you that this is a very sweeping and thorough evaluation being made by the President and the panel of his choice.”
Meanwhile, the President has accepted the courtesy resignations of Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor chairperson and chief executive officer (CEO) Maynardo Sabili, Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Terrence Calatrava, and Presidential Assistant on Muslim Affairs Almarim Tillah.
Bersamin also announced the appointment of Francis Lim as the incoming chairperson of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), replacing Emilio Aquino, whose term ends on June 5, 2025.
Bersamin also said that Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo will remain in his post until his confirmation as the country’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, a designation effective Aug. 1 pending the Commission on Appointments’ approval.
President Marcos earlier asked all his Cabinet secretaries to submit their courtesy resignations following the 2025 midterm elections to recalibrate his administration’s priorities and services.
Marcos has also retained Bersamin along with his economic team, which includes Trade Secretary Maria Cristina Roque, Finance Secretary Ralph Recto, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, Economic Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, and Frederick Go, who serves as the Special Assistant to the President for Investments and Economic Affairs.
Additionally, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla, his brother Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, and Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. have also been retained.
In a related development, Secretary Raphael Lotilla has been reassigned to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources from the Department of Energy, following Marcos’ acceptance of the courtesy resignation submitted by Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga.
Furthermore, Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development has been appointed as the Presidential Adviser for Pasig River Development, holding the rank of Secretary. He has been succeeded by engineer Ramon Aliling, a former Housing undersecretary who previously directed the Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino program and the Pasig Bigyan Muli Buhay Project./PN
