PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has retained only several Cabinet members so far, following his directive on Thursday for all top officials in his administration to submit courtesy resignations, Malacañang confirmed Friday.
The announcement was made by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, who also retained his position in the Cabinet.
Along with him, the following Cabinet members were retained:
- Ma Cristina Roque (Department of Trade and Industry secretary)
- Ralph Recto (Department of Finance secretary)
- Arsenio Balisacan (Department of Economy, Planning, and Development secretary)
- Amenah Pangandaman (Department of Budget and Management secretary)
- Frederick Go (Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs of the Philippines)
Former undersecretaries Tess Lazaro and Sharon Garin have been promoted to lead the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of Energy (DOE), respectively.
Meanwhile, the former secretaries of both the DFA and the DOE have been reassigned.
Former Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo has been appointed as the Philippines’ Permanent Representative to the United Nations, while Raphael Lotilla now serves as the new Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
Jose Ramon Aliling has also been named the new Secretary of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD).
