Bersamin dismisses rumors of Cabinet revamp

MALACAÑANG has ruled out any Cabinet reorganization amid rumors that two more members of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s official family have resigned. Speaking to reporters in Pasay City on Thursday, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said he does not want to "dignify speculations." "I do not know yet how true they are or if there is any basis. But usually, speculations are very ... are always there," Bersamin said when asked if Information and Communications Technology Secretary Ivan Uy and Presidential Communications Secretary Cesar Chavez are on their way out. "And we cannot tell you until it already happened because, you know, we do not have compelling reasons. But speculations are rife. So, we just cannot dignify speculations," he added. Uy has been criticized for spending more time traveling abroad than running his department. The president has so far resisted making any changes. Chavez announced on Thursday he would go on leave and named Presidential Communications Senior Undersecretary Emerald Ridao as officer-in-charge of the agency. Bersamin also confirmed that Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista was resigning for health reasons. Marcos named former Bases Conversion and Development Authority chief Vivencio Dizon as Bautista's replacement. "Secretary Jimmy Bautista signified that he might need to rest because of health issues. And the President was always solicitous of the health of his Cabinet members. So, when the President and Secretary Bautista talked about it, it became clear to the President that Secretary Bautista may really need to take a rest from official duties," he said. Bersamin also denied that the president had asked Bautista to resign.