Domingo resignation ‘under consideration’

Trade and Industry Secretary Gregory Domingo on Saturday confirmed he had submitted his resignation to President Aquino but declined to state the reason why.

“Sorry, (I) cannot comment beyond what the Palace has announced,” Domingo said in a text message on Saturday.

Domingo instead cited the statement of Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. which said: “According to Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr., Secretary Gregory Domingo has submitted his resignation to President Aquino and that is under consideration.”

“Secretary Ochoa is awaiting word from the President regarding this matter,” Coloma said.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte told state-run Radyo ng Bayan she was unaware that Domingo had tendered his resignation.

“I have not been informed of any resignation of any of our Cabinet members…I have not been informed of any resignation from the Cabinet,” she said.

Valte said she saw Domingo “a few weeks ago” and he did not mention any plans of resigning.

Domingo’s resignation comes with a little over nine months left in the Aquino administration.

He is leaving the Cabinet while the government is in the thick of preparations and activities for the Philippines’ hosting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) meetings this year, which will culminate in a two-day summit of heads of state and government of the Apec member economies in November.

Domingo was one of the first Cabinet secretaries to be appointed in the Aquino administration back in 2010.

Prior to Domingo’s appointment as trade secretary, he held a number of positions in the private sector such as SM Investments Corp., BDO, Belle Corp., and Manila Electric Co.

Domingo also worked for financial institutions in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and New York from 1982 to 1989, including Chase Manhattan Bank, First Boston, Drexel Burnham Lambert and Mellon Bank.—Amy R. Remo and Nikko Dizon