After making a big show of calling for the courtesy resignations of his entire cabinet, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has retained 18 of its 23 members.
The five who have been removed from the presidential cabinet are the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Maria Antonia “Toni” Yulo-Loyzaga, Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor Chair Maynardo Sabili, Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Terence Calatrava, Presidential Assistant on Muslim Affairs Almarim Tila, and Presidential Adviser for Special Concerns Menandro Espinelli. Department of Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla will replace Yulo-Loyzaga.
Notable cabinet members whose courtesy resignations were declined are Executive Sec. Lucas Bersamin, Transportation Sec. Vince Dizon, Education Sec. Sonny Angara, Social Welfare and Development Sec. Rex Gatchalian, Communications Sec. Jaybee Ruiz, Tourism Sec. Christina Garcia-Frasco, Health Sec. Teodoro Herbosa, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chair Romando Artes, and Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile.
Marcos called for their courtesy resignations following the launch of his podcast BBM Podcast, where he revealed that he was unsatisfied with his administration’s performance. “I want to be respected, but maybe fear is better,” he said.
In a May 21 report by the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), the president said, “It’s time to realign government with the people’s expectations.”
“This is not business as usual. The people have spoken, and they expect results — not politics, not excuses. We hear them, and we will act.”
The courtesy resignations were intended to give Marcos room to evaluate the various government agencies and departments and determine which cabinet members could align with the administration’s “recalibrated priorities.” The PCO said that the president wanted a more focused and performance-driven approach to government, and that the cabinet shakeup is part of the administration’s “bold reset.”
