President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has decided to retain five Cabinet secretaries who make up the government’s economic team and Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin.

Apart from Bersamin, Marcos also rejected the courtesy resignations of his economoc 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.

“He (Marcos) 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.

“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.

In a statement, Pangandaman thanked the President for his "steadfast trust, support and confidence" which reignited her determination to "work even harder for our nation and our people."

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.

“All 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.

“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. 

PNA PHOTO