Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr., who sits as President and CEO of PhilExport, Employers Confederation of the Philippines president, and chairman emeritus of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce, believes that cabinet secretaries should not be the collateral damage of the current political tensions happening in the country.

Ortiz-Luis Jr. also believes that the current economic team, which he said is performing very well, and even Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon, who is just continuing the infrastructure projects of then-Secretary Art Tugade, will be spared from the cabinet shake-up.

“It’s a courtesy resignation that is being asked and I believe, marami na ang tatlo sa mga magre-resign. Mapipilay ang gobyerno kapag nag-resign lahat yan,” he said in a telephone interview on Thursday.

In a separate interview, ECOP chairperson Edgardo Lacson noted that the move for a cabinet revamp for a President with a six-year fixed term is an opportune time to realign his cabinet—the extent and depth of reorganization, heavily influenced by the result of midterm elections.

“With the unmistakable defeat of Pres. BBM’s official senatorial lineup, he has to bend to the will of the electorate by shaking his cabinet and replacing the perceived weak and retaining the exemplary performers to keep the momentum of his agenda until the end of his term,” he said in a Viber message.

“Of course, there will be some negative public impression—although fleeting—for those who will be relieved and a seal of public adulation for those who will be retained,” he added.

Lacson believes that it will take a comprehensive performance appraisal—only available confidentially to the president—to identify those who will be given the green slip or stay.

“Appointment to a cabinet position offers the appointees the opportunity to be propelled to higher honor but with a corresponding risk of reduced self-confidence and social stigma as and when they are shown the exit door,” Lacson said.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. earlier called for the courtesy resignation of all Cabinet secretaries, in a decisive move to recalibrate his administration following the results of the recent elections.

“This is not business as usual,” the President said. “The people have spoken, and they expect results—not politics, not excuses. We hear them, and we will act.”

The request for courtesy resignations is aimed at giving the President the elbow room to evaluate the performance of each department and determine who will continue to serve in line with his administration’s recalibrated priorities.

“This is not about personalities—it’s about performance, alignment, and urgency,” the President added. “Those who have delivered and continue to deliver will be recognized. But we cannot afford to be complacent. The time for comfort zones is over.”