Environment Secretary Jose ?Lito? Atienza Jr. on Monday announced his resignation from the Cabinet, saying he wanted to focus on his bid to reclaim the top post in Manila.

He also challenged other government officials running for elective posts, including senators, to quit out of ?delicadeza? (sensitivity to the people?s opinion).

Atienza said he was relinquishing his post despite a recent Supreme Court ruling, saying government officials seeking elective posts did not need to resign.

?I believe that I should resign because I now have a new objective. This is to be fair to the department, to the President and to the government,? Atienza said at a press conference.

Atienza, who served as environment secretary for two years and five months, said he told President Macapagal-Arroyo about his plan to resign some two weeks ago.

He said he submitted his resignation Monday and Ms. Arroyo was ?very supportive? of his decision.

Atienza, incumbent Mayor Alfredo Lim and former Philippine National Police chief Gen. Avelino Razon are running for mayor of Manila in next year?s election.

Atienza served as Manila City mayor for three consecutive terms, from 1998 to 2007. His son, Ali, ran and lost the mayoralty bid to Lim in May 2007.

Should he get the mayoralty back, Atienza said, he would reconstruct the structures along the Roxas Boulevard baywalk that Lim had torn down.

Because of Lim?s action, Atienza said, the city looked ?dark, lonely and dirty? this Christmas season.