An official of a major business group has expressed confusion over President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s decision to retain nearly half of his Cabinet members, questioning the rationale for the move.

On 21 May, Marcos surprised Filipinos when he told his entire Cabinet to resign, later including officials of government-owned and controlled corporations, and other agencies.

“It’s time to realign the government with the people’s expectations. This is not business as usual,” the President declared.

On Tuesday, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin revealed that the resignations of 21 Cabinet members were not accepted.

They were Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III, Education Secretary Sonny Angara, TESDA Secretary Kiko Benitez, Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma, Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian, Health Secretary Ted Herbosa, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac, Science and Technology Secretary Renato Solidum Jr., Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco, and Information and Communications Technology Secretary Henry Ruel Aguda.

Bersamin said the President also retained Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon, Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan, Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile, Presidential Management Staff Secretary Elaine Masukat, MMDA Chairman Romando Artes, Mindanao Development Authority Chairman Leo Terezo Magno, Presidential Adviser for Mindanao Concerns Secretary Antonio Sariles, BIR Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr., Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio, and National Treasurer Sharon Almanza.

Earlier, Marcos appointed Police Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III the new chief of the Philippine National Police. Former Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra — who had also served under President Rodrigo Duterte — was dismissed.

“We are seeing a clear reward system. General Torre III was given the PNP post. Solicitor General Guevarra was sacked after he declined to represent the government. So, what do you call that?” asked the business leader, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The source noted that while the President publicly distanced himself from the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte, he appointed a police general who had played a key role in the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

“Even if the move was illegal, he followed it — why? Because of the promise of becoming PNP chief,” the source said. “Because his (Marcos) credibility is going down. What he says is not what he does.”

Meanwhile, Bersamin confirmed that Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor Chairperson and CEO Maynardo Sabili, Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Terence Calatrava, and Presidential Assistant on Muslim Affairs Almarim Tila will be replaced.

Presidential Adviser for Special Concerns Menandro Espinelli was terminated, while lawyer Francis Edrelyn Lim was appointed as the incoming chairperson of the Securities and Exchange Commission. He will replace Emilio Aquino, whose term ends on 5 June.

‘Proof of the pudding is in the eating’

Meanwhile, Employers Confederation of the Philippines Chairman Edgardo Lacson welcomed the shake-up with cautious optimism.

“The reshuffle and recalibration of the President’s Cabinet offer new and elevated expectations,” he said. “But as the old Spanish proverb says, ‘The proof of the pudding is in the eating.’ Let the outcome speak louder than the intention.”

The Makati Business Club, through Executive Director Apa Ongpin, said it was satisfied with the decision to retain most Cabinet members.

Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Enunina Mangio said: “So far, the retained and chosen Cabinet secretaries were the ones with very satisfactory performance. Private sector and business groups are satisfied with the retained secretaries.”

Bersamin emphasized that although the shake-up was not as extensive as some had expected, more changes could still be coming.

“With the announcement on the Cabinet secretaries whose courtesy resignations were declined, it appears that this performance review was not as sweeping as the public may have anticipated,” Bersamin said. “Well, if you are asking for blood, there will still be blood.”

He said all retained Cabinet officials, himself included, are expected to renew their focus and perform more effectively in their respective areas.

“These secretaries, whose resignations have been declined, need to be announced because there have been many speculations that have been going around. They have been the victims of intrigue and harassment from many quarters. That is why we came out today with an announcement of who they are — because it’s just simple justice to them,” he added.

Bersamin stressed that the scope of the reshuffle ultimately rests with the President. “The President might have probably, most likely determined that most of these whom he retained have performed at par, because otherwise, he would surely have fired them,” he said. “You know, this is not a purge. You must understand that."