Any Cabinet members left? Marcos jokes about revamp

MANILA, Philippines — As officials feel anxiety over his surprise move to seek their courtesy resignations, President Marcos made light of the situation during an engagement with some Cabinet members and lawmakers yesterday.

While he was acknowledging the guests who attended the presentation of two newly enacted laws at Malacañang, Marcos, who is conducting a performance review of his appointees, wondered whether he still has Cabinet officials.

“Senate President Francis Escudero and the other members of the Senate here with us today; the Senior Deputy House Speaker Aurelio Gonzales and other honorable members of the House of Representatives; the honorable members of the Cabinet… Wait, do I still have a Cabinet? Who am I addressing now? We are in flux,” Marcos said, drawing laughs from the audience.

Presented during the event were Republic Act 12145 or the Economy, Planning and Development Act and Republic Act 12180 or the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology Modernization Act.

Just hours before, the President directed all Cabinet members to submit their courtesy resignation to “recalibrate his administration following the results of the recent elections.”

According to Marcos, his order is about “performance, alignment, and urgency” as people expect results, not politics and excuses. The Philippines, the President added, needs a “renewed alignment, faster execution and a results-first mindset” because of its “evolving needs.”

Earlier this week, Marcos acknowledged that the results of the recently concluded midterm elections reflected Filipinos’ disappointment with government service. The President endorsed 11 senatorial candidates, but only six of them won.

One-year appointment ban

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday reminded losing candidates in the midterm elections that they will have to wait for one year before they can be appointed to any government post.

Comelec Chairman George Garcia said the one-year ban on appointment should be observed following the May 12 national and local elections.

“One-year ban is already in effect. Those who lost can’t be appointed to any government position and will have to wait for a year,” Garcia said in an interview.

The Comelec chief said that the ban is to prevent abuse of authority or power.