Marcos Jr. retains 6 government heads, 3 others out

MANILA, Philippines — Three more officials were allowed to step down from their posts as part of the Marcos administration’s sweeping review of agencies’ performance, Malacañang announced yesterday, while six other agency heads will stay on the job.

President Marcos has accepted the resignation of Presidential Legislative Liaison Office head Mark Llandro Mendoza, Presidential Adviser on Military and Police Affairs Roman Felix and Philippine National Oil Co. Renewables Corp. president and CEO John Arenas, according to Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro.

Marcos rejected the resignation of six officials, which means that they would remain in their posts. They are Government Service Insurance System president and general manager Jose Arnulfo Veloso, Land Bank of the Philippines president and CEO Lynette Ortiz, Development Bank of the Philippines president and CEO Michael de Jesus, National Irrigation Administration chief Eduardo Guillen, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office general manager Melquiades Robles and Philippine Health Insurance Corp. president and CEO Edwin Mercado.

“The acceptance of the courtesy resignations and the retaining (of some officials) prove that the evaluation of the work of the heads of agencies and other leaders who should be trusted by the President continues,” Castro said at a press briefing.

She did not elaborate on the reasons behind Marcos’ decision to let go of some of his officials.

At an earlier press briefing, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said each resignation accepted was “based on a careful assessment of whether the standards set by the President for efficiency and leadership have been met.”

Days after the May 12 midterm polls, Marcos directed Cabinet members to submit their courtesy resignations to allow him to evaluate the performance of agencies and to ensure that the government is responsive to the concerns of Filipinos.

Malacañang has so far announced four waves of leadership changes, although most of the Cabinet members were allowed to remain in their posts.

Earlier this month, Marcos said he was considering conducting a quarterly and a “more rigorous” review of officials’ performance to ensure that the targets set by his administration were met.

“What happened really here was that I put everyone on notice, that you are all on – basically all on probation,” he said in a chance interview with reporters last June 10.