Following the recent call of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.'s to all cabinet members and other top officials to resign in their posts, several Cabinet officials and top government appointees have begun submitting their 'courtesy resignations.'
Among the first to act was Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian who has announced his intention to file his courtesy resignation early Thursday morning, May 22, 2025.
“I serve at the pleasure of the President. I will immediately file my courtesy resignation this morning,” Gatchalian wrote in a post on his X (formerly Twitter).
Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Vivencio “Vince” Dizon also tendered his resignation through a formal letter addressed to the President.
“In line with the President’s directive to realign government with the people’s expectations and ensure faster and more focused action to address their most pressing needs, the undersigned respectfully tenders his unqualified courtesy resignation as Secretary of the Department of Transportation (DOTr),” Dizon wrote.
Joining them is Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah "Mina" F. Pangandaman, who is also set to submit her courtesy resignation in accordance with the President’s call.
"On the Call for Courtesy Resignations from All Members of the Cabinet by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. I will submit my resignation. We all serve at the pleasure of the President. I support all of his decisions, knowing that they are always made with the best interest of the Filipino people in mind. We stand firmly with the President as he steers the nation and our economy forward with integrity, transparency, courage, and compassion," she said.
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma echoed the sentiment in his statement:
“A Cabinet Secretary serves for as long as he/she enjoys the full trust and confidence of the appointing authority, the President. Thus, it is well-within the plenary authority of the President to require that courtesy resignation be handed over by his Cabinet. As ordered and to afford the President a free hand, I will most respectfully comply,” he stated.
Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Henry R. Aguda also voiced his support for the directive.
“President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive urging all cabinet secretaries to submit their courtesy resignations underscores his firm commitment to fast-track projects that uplift the lives of Filipinos. We stand by the President and serve at his pleasure. We will continue to work to deliver his mandate for the Filipino people,” DICT chief said.
Moreover, Department of Finance (DOF) Secretary Ralph G. Recto emphasized his unwavering support for the President’s decision.
“I fully support the President’s directive for Cabinet members to submit their courtesy resignations. The President carries the heavy burden of leading the nation through complex global and domestic challenges. This bold decision was made with his desire to put people and country first. That I serve at the pleasure of the President is a thought that has never been lost on me from the day I assumed office. I have already submitted my courtesy resignation without delay or reservation.”
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Romando S. Artes, who holds Cabinet rank, also confirmed his compliance.
“As MMDA Chairman with the rank of Cabinet Secretary, Chairman Artes will comply with the directive, as he serves at the pleasure of the President,” he said.
In a post in his X, Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac likewise declared his intention to resign.
“As a member of the President's official family, I am always subject to the control, and work under the trust and confidence, of His Excellency. I therefore humbly heed the call for courtesy resignation, which I shall submit immediately today,” Cacdac said on X.
Also set to resign is Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. as a response on the directive.
“The President has spoken. It's clear that he seeks the flexibility to respond to the people's clamor as conveyed in the recent midterm polls. As members of his official family, we are called to support his efforts to recalibrate and move forward with renewed focus. I have submitted my courtesy resignation and now leave it to the President's good judgment to determine whether I shall continue to be part of his team as he advances his vision for the country. In the meantime, I will continue to serve the Department of Agriculture and its stakeholders to the best of my abilities. I remain guided by a commitment to public service and the greater good of the Filipino people,” DA secretary said.
Joining the wave, Department of Economic Planning and Development (DEVDev) Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan issued this statement:
“I serve as DEPDev Secretary at the pleasure of the President. If deemed necessary, I stand ready to hand over the leadership to someone the President believes can better drive our nation's development goals.”
Lucas Bersamin, the Executive Secretary also submitted his courtesy resignation.
"I hereby respectfully tender my courtesy resignation as Executive Secretary, Office of the President. Upon your acceptance, the undersigned will immediately begin the process of turning over in an orderly manner all the matters pending in my office," said Bersamin.
TESDA Director Kiko Benitez also conveyed his willingness to submit his courtesy resignation to the President.
"We are ready to submit to President Bongbong Marcos our courtesy resignation as Director General of TESDA. We are always ready to serve in any capacity, at the pleasure of the President," TESDA secretary also said.
Moreover, Secretary Raphael Lotilla of the Department of Energy (DOE) has also submitted his courtesy resignation in compliance with the President’s directive.
“In order to allow the President to have a free hand in reorganizing his Cabinet for the remainder of his term, and to express my full support for his Presidency, I have respectfully submitted my resignation as Secretary of Energy effective upon the President’s acceptance,” he said.
Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Teodoro also submitted his resignation to President Marcos.
"Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr. has submitted his courtesy resignation to President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. this morning and he assures the public that the Department of National Defense and its bureaus, especially the Armed Forces of the Philippines, will continue to fulfill its mandate of upholding our sovereignty and territorial integrity, and ensure the continuity of public service in support of national development during this time of transition."
Adding to the list of officials complying with the directive, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed that Secretary Enrique A. Manalo also tendered his courtesy resignation.
"The Department of Foreign Affairs confirms that in accordance with the instructions of the President, Secretary Enrique A. Manalo has submitted his courtesy resignation early this morning," the DFA spokesperson said in a official statement.
Newly appointed Secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd), Senator Sonny Angara, also stepped down.
“Today, I submitted my courtesy resignation as Secretary of the Department of Education, effective immediately,” he said in a statement posted on agency Facebook page.
Other resignations came from key departments across various sector, Secretary Jesus Remulla of the Department of Justice (DOJ) also submitted his resignation in support of Marcos' directive.
"In line with your call for a government devoted solely to public service and free from politics, I respectfully tender my courtesy resignation as Secretary of Justice."
Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Secretary Jose Rizalino L. Acuzar likewise offered his resignation, affirming his respect for the President’s leadership.
“In light of the President's pronouncement calling for the courtesy resignations of his Cabinet Secretaries, I hereby humbly submit my resignation.”
Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Ma. Esperanza Christina Garcia Frasco also expressed her support for the administration’s policies in her letter of resignation.
“Pursuant to your directive, and in support of your administration's policy to put the people first, please accept my courtesy resignation as Secretary of the Department of Tourism,” DOT secretary said.
From the economic cluster, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ma. Cristina Aldeguer-Roque also relinquished her post.
“In view of the administration's call for recalibration and realignment, I respectfully submit my courtesy resignation as Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve and contribute to the nation's growth during my tenure, and I offer my full and continuous support to the administration's goals in any way that I can.”
Meanwhile, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Juanito Motor U. Remulla joined the growing list of resigning officials.
“This is to respectfully tender my courtesy resignation as Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government in support of His Excellency's directive to realign the government with the people's expectations.”
The newly appointed administrator of Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Administrator Patricia Yvonne Caunan has also submitted her resignation.
"Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Administrator PY Caunan has formally submitted her unqualified courtesy resignation in full support of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s call to recalibrate government service in line with the people's expectations," she said.
From the health sector, Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Teodoro J. Herbosa, MD, submitted his resignation in support of the government’s review process.
“In full support of the ongoing performance review of all Cabinet members and government agencies, I respectfully offer my courtesy resignation,” Herbosa said.
Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Jay Ruiz has joined the club as he formally submitted his unqualified courtesy resignation.
"With utmost respect, I tender my courtesy resignation as Secretary of the Presidential Communications Office in view of the ongoing recalibration of government efforts under your leadership. I humbly submit this resignation to give you a free hand in reorganizing your team as needed to pursue your people-centered vision for the country," PCO secretary said.
Secretary Mark Llandro of the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office (PLLO) also joined the list of officials who submitted their courtesy resignations.
"I am respectfully tendering my courtesy resignation as Presidential Adviser on Legislative Affairs and Head of the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office (PLLO), effective immediately. I am also endorsing all the necessary and pertinent tasks, duties, files, and records, under my accountability as part of my turn-over," he said in a formal statement.
Presidential Management Staff (PMS) Secretary Atty. Elaine Masukat also submitted her courtesy resignation following PBBM's directive.
"In faithful compliance with the directive of the President, I have tendered my courtesy resignation. I remain committed to serving the Filipino people with integrity, wherever duty may call," said PMS Secretary Masukat.
This directive is seen as a response to the results of the recent midterm elections and public clamor for improved governance, seeks to give the President the flexibility to reassess his Cabinet lineup.
However, Malacañang has not yet confirmed which resignations have been accepted or who may be named as potential replacements.
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