Philippine Pres. orders all cabinet ministers to resign after mid-term polls

KUALA LUMPUR, May 22 (KUNA) -- Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos asked all cabinet ministers on Thursday to submit their formal resignations following the poor performance in last week's midterm elections.
In a press statement, the Philippine presidency said this step came as part of a recalibration of the president's administration following the midterm elections, which were viewed as a referendum on the government's performance.
The statement noted that Marcos said that these resignations will allow him the opportunity to assess the performance of each ministry individually and make decisions on who will continue to serve, stressing that it is not about individuals but rather "performance, alignment, and speed of achievement" in light of what he described as "the government's recalibrated priorities." The decision sparked controversy and speculation in the Philippines, with some observers viewing it as an attempt to test the ministers' loyalty to Marcos and eliminate any remaining loyalists to his rival, former President Rodrigo Duterte, especially given the tense political climate following the elections. (end) aab.aa