Marcos gov’t revamp: Remullas, Teodoro in; SolGen and CHED chief out

This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

But the Executive Secretary declines to confirm or deny if National Security Adviser Eduardo Año's courtesy resignation has been accepted or declined

MANILA, Philippines – Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla, Interior Secretary Juan Victor “Jonvic” Remulla, and Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., will remain in President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s Cabinet, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin announced Thursday, May 29.

Bersamin made the announcement in a news briefing, in response to questions on whether the three officials will be retained or let go.

Marcos picked Boying Remulla as his DOJ chief in May 2022, even before he started his term, while Teodoro was appointed as defense chief in 2023, hen the appointment ban for losing 2022 candidates lapsed. Jonvic Remulla was appointed interior secretary in October 2024, when Benhur Abalos resigned to run for senator.

In the same press conference, Bersamin announced that Marcos has accepted the courtesy resignation of the following officials:

• Solicitor General Menardo Gueverra, replaced by University of the Philippines law dean Darlene Berberabe
• Commission on Higher Education Chairperson Prospero “Popoy” de Vera, replaced by CHED Commissioner Shirley Agrupis

The accepted resignations — and Bersamin’s inadvertent confirmation of the names who will not be removed from the Cabinet — is the latest in a string of high-profile shakeups in the Marcos administration.

On May 22, Marcos ordered all Cabinet members to hand in their courtesy resignations. The order was later confirmed to cover not just heads of agencies but Secretary-ranked appointees and even heads of Government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCS).

Prior to Bersamin’s announcement on May 29, the Palace had only confirmed that the Executive Secretary and the five economic managers were sure to be retained in the Cabinet.

On Thursday, Bersamin said of the continuing revamp: “This is not a purge. This effort is the president’s commitment to a government that works fast, delivers results, and meets the expectations of the Filipino people.”

During the briefing, he also announced the appointment of Police Major General Nicolas Torre III as Marcos’ next PNP chief.

But there is one courtesy resignation whose acceptance or rejection Bersamin was apparently not privy to: if National Security Adviser Eduardo Año would also be keeping his post.

Bersamin said he could not say for certain, even as he confirmed that Teodoro and the Remullas — officials who were most prominent in the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte — were staying. – Rappler.com