Cabinet shake-up not targeted, operations business as usual - Palace

Metro Manila, Philippines - Malacañang on Thursday clarified that the Cabinet shake-up halfway through the administration’s term does not single out an official, and that government operations are unhampered.

Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. assured the public that all pending and ongoing projects will proceed while Cabinet members go on a performance review.

As for speculation that certain officials have been singled out, she said there are no updates pointing to any specific targets at this time.

“Maliwanag din po ang sinabi ng pangulo, hindi po maaapektuhan kung anuman po ang pending at existing projects habang ito ay may transition. At tuluy-tuloy lamang po ang pagtatrabaho ng mga Cabinet secretaries at ng mga tao sa gobyerno,” Castro said.

[Translation: The president made it clear that pending and existing projects will not be affected in this transition. Work will continue for Cabinet secretaries and government personnel.]

She added that officials are expected to show they are aligned with the president’s goals and prove they deserve to remain in his administration.

“At mas maganda po itong mapakita rin ng ating mga heads of agencies, cabinet secretaries na sila ay naaayon sa goal ng Pangulo, ipakita nila na sila ay dapat na manatili bilang parte ng administrasyon ng ating Pangulo,” she said.

[Translation: It’s important for our agency heads and Cabinet secretaries to show they support the president’s goals and prove they deserve to remain part of the administration.]

“Sabi nga natin, walang puwang ang tamad at korap sa administrasyon ni Pangulong Marcos Jr.,” she added

[Translation: As we’ve said, there is no room for the lazy and corrupt in President Marcos Jr.’s administration.]

Castro confirmed that the move was prompted in part by the results of the midterm elections.

“Aminado ang pangulo na kulang; sa kaniyang paningin, nakulangan siguro ang taumbayan sa naging performance ng gobyerno kaya hindi nila nakuha iyong pinaka-target na numero especially sa Senado,” she said.

[Translation: The president admits there were shortcomings; in his view, perhaps the public was not satisfied with the government’s performance, which is why they didn’t reach their target numbers, especially in the Senate.]

She said the president expects a quick turnaround.

Midterm elections - especially for the Senate - are usually a barometer of public affirmation on the administration halfway through. Administration candidates usually obtain majority seats or get elected in local polls. Only six of the 11 senatorial bets of the administration, including one allied with the vice president, were elected to the Senate.

“Kung mapapansin ninyo po sa bawat salita ng pangulo, ang gusto niya ay mabilisan. So, asahan ninyo po ang mas mabilis na aksiyon dito,” Castro said.

[Translation: If you listen to the president, he wants things to move quickly. So expect swift action.]

The members of the committee conducting the performance review will be announced by the Office of the Executive Secretary, she added.

Asked about the review criteria, Castro said it includes performance and integrity.

“Unang-una, kung gaano nga ba kabilis ang kanilang performance at kung may issue ba tungkol sa korapsyon – importante po iyan,” she said.

[Translation: First and foremost is how efficient their performance is, and whether there are corruption issues - that’s very important.]