Marcos asks all Cabinet secretaries to tender courtesy resignation
President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on May 22 has asked all Cabinet secretaries to tender their courtesy resignation, the Presidential Communications Office said.
In a statement shared by the Philippine Information Agency, the PCO said Marcos' call aims to "recalibrate his administration following the results of the recent elections."
"It’s time to realign government with the people’s expectations," he said.
According to the office, the move is "aimed at giving the President the elbow room to evaluate the performance of each department and determine who will continue to serve in line with his administration’s recalibrated priorities."
"This is not business as usual," Marcos said. "The people have spoken, and they expect results—not politics, not excuses. We hear them, and we will act."
Marcos said those "who have delivered and continue to deliver will be recognized."
"But we cannot afford to be complacent. The time for comfort zones is over," he added.
The PCO said the call for a courtesy resignation "marks a clear transition from the early phase of governance to a more focused and performance-driven approach."
"The President emphasized that while many have served with dedication and professionalism," it said, "the evolving needs of the country require a renewed alignment, faster execution, and a results-first mindset."
The PCO assured the public that government services "will remain uninterrupted during this transition."
"[T]he President reiterated that stability, continuity, and meritocracy will guide the formation of his leadership team moving forward," it added. "With this bold reset, the Marcos administration signals a new phase—sharper, faster, and fully focused on the people’s most pressing needs."
As of press time, the following secretaries announced that they're submitting their resignation letters:
- Ralph Recto (Department of Finance)
- Amenah Pangandaman (Department of Budget and Management)
- Jonvic Remulla (Department of Interior and Local Government)
- Vince Dizon (Department of Transportation)
- Rex Gatchalian (Department of Social Welfare and Development)
- Arsenio Balisacan (Department of Economy, Planning, and Development)
In his May 19 podcast about the midterm elections, Marcos intimated the possibility of a restructuring in the Cabinet, noting a performance review was ongoing.
"Baka mangyari ‘yan," he said of the would-be dismissals. "Dito nga sa ginagawa naming performance review. Iyon ang warning ko sa kanila."
“Kung talagang may nagkukulang o corrupt, kung talagang masyadong mabigat yung kanilang kasalanan, kasuhan na namin," he added, without specifying anything.
