MANILA – President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has rejected calls for him to resign, stating that it is not in his nature to run away from problems of the country.
In an interview with the media in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Tuesday night, the Chief Executive stated that there is no reason for him to step down amid his efforts to recalibrate his administration.
“I will resign? Ba’t ko gagawin ‘yun? At wala sa ugali ko ang tinatakbuhan ang problema,” President Marcos said. “What good will that do?”
President Marcos added that his recent directive for Cabinet secretaries and government heads to submit courtesy resignations is not a sufficient ground for him to also vacate the highest post.
Meanwhile, President Marcos said the broader government revamp was not for show, adding that there would be a “rigorous” performance review beyond Cabinet level.
“We are looking at the problem deeply,” Marcos said. “I don’t do things for optics. If there is a problem, I like to fix it. So that’s what we are doing. So, expect us to be doing a rigorous performance review, not only at the Cabinet level, but even deeper.”
So far, Marcos has retained Executive Secretary Lucas 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.
He has reassigned Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, following the acceptance of the courtesy resignation from Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga.
Additionally, Marcos has appointed Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo as the Philippines’ Permanent Representative to the United Nations, succeeding Antonio Manuel Lagdameo who has indicated his intention to retire from government service.
Veteran diplomat Ma. Theresa Lazaro will assume Manalo’s position starting July 31. Furthermore, Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar has been appointed as the Presidential Adviser for Pasig River Development, holding the rank of Secretary.
Acuzar will be 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
