Senate leaders on Thursday welcomed President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s call for the courtesy resignation of all his Cabinet members, describing the move as a necessary step to realign the administration with the people’s needs and expectations.
Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero said the President’s decision reflects a sincere acknowledgment of existing governance issues and a willingness to demand accountability from his team.
“Earlier this week, I expressed support for the President’s call to set aside politics and focus on the needs of our people,” Escudero said in a statement.
“Calling for the courtesy resignations of his official family is a good start. It highlights the need for the entire bureaucracy to recalibrate and align government initiatives with the expectations of our people.”
Escudero likened the move to a “mid-game substitution,” saying it must go beyond reshuffling personnel and instead require distancing from “reckless allies who squandered [the President’s] goodwill and burned through his political capital for selfish ends.”
“The President cannot implement government programs by himself; kailangan niya ng mapagkakatiwalaang katulong, dapat meron siyang matinong katuwang (He needs trustworthy aides; he must have reliable partners),” he said.
Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada similarly emphasized that Cabinet members serve at the President’s pleasure and that the directive should not alarm the public.
“If the President deems it necessary to revamp his official family, I don’t see anything wrong with it — especially if such a move is in pursuit of assembling a leadership team that can deliver efficient, accountable, and responsive governance,” Estrada said.
He called the move a “step in the right direction,” viewing it as part of a genuine reform effort to restore public trust in government institutions.
Senate Deputy Majority Leader Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito said Marcos may be drawing from the results of the recent elections to gauge public sentiment.
“Sabi nga niya, we probably forgot some programs. So siguro by asking for courtesy resignations, he’s telling them to perform — not just sit idly like kuya kuyakoy all the time (As he said, we probably forgot some programs. So perhaps by asking for courtesy resignations, he’s telling them to step up — not just sit around idly all the time),” he said.
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III also lauded the move, urging Marcos to appoint apolitical and idealistic individuals with no interest in running for office in the 2028 elections.
“These non-political personalities will be more objective and scientific in their work,” Pimentel said.
“The focus should be on the success of the administration through efficient and effective service to the Filipino people,” he added.
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian also backed the President’s call, saying it should push officials to assess their effectiveness in office.
“I support the President’s call for the courtesy resignation of all his Cabinet members, and this should prompt them to reflect on their own performance,” Gatchalian said.
“All Cabinet appointees, whether newly appointed or long-serving, must prove they can lead with urgency and competence. As it is, red tape is killing the country, slowing down progress and fueling public frustration,” he added.
Senator-elect Erwin Tulfo also agreed that Marcos did the right thing by ordering his Cabinet officials to tender their resignations, saying this will allow the President to pick the right leader for an agency.
“This is the time na makapagpili ang Pangulo ng tamang opisyal sa isang departamento na sa tingin niya ay effective at tutugon sa pangangailangan ng mga tao (for the President to pick the right official for a department that he thinks will be effective and can address the needs of the people),” Tulfo, whose candidacy was backed by Marcos, said.
“Karamihan sa mga nakaupo ngayon nag-serve na ng three years. Ang tanong, nagawa ba nila ang gusto ng Pangulo para sa tao (Most of these officials have been serving for three years. The question is, have they done what the President likes to be done for the people)?” he added. (PNA)
