Castro: Marcos rules out further Cabinet revamp

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Thursday said there will no longer be a revamp in the Cabinet of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

This statement came in response to Sen. Rodante Marcoleta’s concern over the supposedly growing number of crucial Philippine government agencies that are being led by officials who are merely serving in an “acting” capacity.

“We asked the President earlier; there will no longer be any rigodon,” Palace press officer Claire Castro said at a briefing.

READ: Marcoleta: Cabinet filled with acting secretaries

“The names will be submitted to the Commission on Appointments (CA) the soonest possible,” she also said.

Among Cabinet members serving in the “acting” capacity are Acting Finance Secretary Frederick Go, Acting Budget Secretary Rolando Toledo, and Acting Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida.

An acting secretary becomes an official secretary when the president formally appoints the official and the CA confirms the appointment.

Meanwhile, Castro also addressed reports that Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Raphael Lotilla may soon exit his post.

She neither confirmed nor denied the reports, saying instead that they are still reviewing Lotilla’s records.

“What was said is that there has already been a third bypass of his appointment, so the President and the Presidential Management Staff (PMS) are now reviewing the records, and we will see what the update will be regarding this,” said Castro.

Lotilla replaced Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga, as announced by then-Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin at the height of the Marcos cabinet revamp in 2025. /mr