By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos
MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has decided to keep Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin and five other Cabinet secretaries, amid a major Cabinet shake-up to “recalibrate” the government.
Bersamin on Friday announced that his courtesy resignation was not accepted because he has the “full backing” of the Chief Executive.
“He communicated to me I have his full backing, for as long as I wish to work for him. And that is a very good gesture of the President because that is a sign of his manifestation of his full trust and confidence in myself,” Bersamin said in a Palace press briefing.
Apart from Bersamin, Marcos also rejected the courtesy resignations of his economic team — Trade Secretary Maria Cristina Roque, Finance Secretary Ralph Recto, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, Economic Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, and Special Assistant to the President for Investments and Economic Affairs Frederick Go.
“Itong limang ito’y magpapatuloy sa kanilang panunungkulan, paninilbihan sa ating taumbayan at makakaasa kayo na sila naman ay sinsero o dedicated sa kanilang sinumpaang katungkulan (These five will continue in their positions, serving our people, and you can expect that they will be sincere and dedicated to their sworn duties),” Bersamin said.
Bersamin said around 52 Cabinet members and government heads have already submitted their courtesy resignations, upon the directive of Marcos as part of his bid for a government “reset.”
He said there will be “more careful evaluation” of the performance of the heads of government agencies and offices.
Bersamin assured the public that “more actions will be coming,” as Marcos wants to be responsive to the “popular” clamor of the public.
“Lahat ng Cabinet members, presidential advisers and other presidential appointees are always subject to the will of the President of the Republic of the Philippines,” he said.
“Wala kaming ilusyon na pang-hawakan ang mga kani-kaniyang pwesto at oras na gusto ng Pangulo na palitan kami o umalis kami sa pwesto, gagawin namin ‘yun (We have no illusion about holding on to our respective positions and when the President wants us to be replaced or leave office, we will do so),” Bersamin added.
Grateful economic team
In a statement, Pangandaman on Friday expressed gratitude to Marcos for his continued trust and confidence following his decision to retain her.
Pangandaman said she, along with other retained economic managers, would continue pushing for reforms to achieve the economic transformation “that is inclusive and sustainable-fulfilling the needs and aspirations of the Filipino people, including future generations.”
“I am tremendously grateful to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for the steadfast trust, support, and confidence he has bestowed not only upon me but also upon the entire economic team,” she said.
“This has reaffirmed my commitment to public service and reignited my determination to work even harder for our nation and our people. The entire economic team shares this vision, reinforcing our collective pursuit of a more prosperous economy,” Pangandaman added. (PNA)
