More heads still to roll — Bersamin

The ongoing reorganization of President Marcos could affect more officials and appointees, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said yesterday.

- By HELEN FLORES

According to Bersamin, Marcos is prioritizing the evaluation of heads of agencies directly involved in basic services.

"There are some offices that are not involved in people's daily lives, like research groups and such," he said in an interview.

Bersamin reiterated that the evaluation is being done one at a time.

"Obviously, this is a process. We can't make a lump sum judgment on them," he said in Filipino.

Bersamin said his May 21 memorandum directed "Cabinet secretaries, heads of agencies of Cabinet rank, other heads of agencies, Presidential advisers/assistants" to tender "unqualified courtesy resignation."

At a press conference at Malacañang on Friday, Bersamin announced the first wave of the Cabinet revamp, with the President retaining his economic team.

Finance Secretary Ralph Recto, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, Trade Secretary Cristina Roque and Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs Frederick Go kept their respective posts.