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President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. meets with his economic team at Malacañang Palace on January 30, 2026. PCO

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MARCOS

Katrina Domingo

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/177425070447920260130-marcos-economic-team-meeting-PCO6.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. meets with his economic team at Malacañang Palace on January 30, 2026. PCO</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. “means no offense to the Commission on Appointments (CA)” in his decision to place officers in charge as heads of executive departments instead of full-fledged Cabinet secretaries, Malacañang said on Monday.</p><p>“The President means no offense to the CA. The President is merely exercising his constitutional prerogative,” Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said. </p><p>“Alam naman po niya na ang acting secretary can remain as acting secretary for a period of one year. The president naman will submit the appointments in due time,” she said in a press briefing.</p><p>Sen. Imee Marcos — the President’s elder sister — earlier noted that 40 percent of the Marcos Jr. Cabinet served in a temporary capacity, which she called a “modus operandi” that skirts the CA’s authority to approve or reject appointees to the Cabinet.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/17/imee-marcos-flags-rampant-practice-of-appointing-acting-cabinet-secretaries-1621">Emerging modus operandi? Imee flags ‘rampant practice’ of appointing acting Cabinet secretaries</a></div><p>“That’s too harsh. Very harsh para sabihin ito sa Pangulo,” Castro said, when asked to comment on Sen. Marcos’ statement.</p><p>“Parang kay Pangulo lang harsh si Sen. Imee Marcos at hindi natin ito nakikita sa ibang kaalyado niya na nasasangkot sa paggawa ng di umano anomalya,” she said.</p><p>The Cabinet members who are heading departments on an acting capacity include the following. </p><ul style="list-style-type:circle"><li>Executive Secretary Ralph Recto </li><li>Budget Secretary Rolando Toledo </li><li>Communications Secretary Dave Gomez </li><li>Environment Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna </li><li>Finance Secretary Frederick Go </li><li>Justice Secretary Frederick Vida </li><li>Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon </li><li>Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez</li></ul><div><br/></div><p>Several critics have also noted that Marcos Jr. could be waiting for May to appoint permanent secretaries, as the law bans losing candidates in the 2025 midterm elections to be appointed into government posts one year after the polls.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/15/comelec-reiterates-1-year-appointment-ban-for-losing-candidates-1455">Comelec reiterates 1-year appointment ban for losing candidates</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Dj_cMGMUsNg?si=JFSQ35Prnk9b24LT" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. “means no offense to the Commission on Appointments (CA)” in his decision to place officers in charge as heads of executive departments instead of full-fledged Cabinet Secretaries, Malacañang said on Monday.</p>

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. “means no offense to the Commission on Appointments (CA)” in his decision to place officers in charge as heads of executive departments instead of full-fledged Cabinet Secretaries, Malacañang said on Monday.

Palace: Marcos ‘means no offense to Commission on Appointments’ in having several acting secretaries

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Palace: Marcos ‘means no offense to Commission on Appointments’ in having several acting secretaries

Katrina Domingo,

ABS-CBN News

Published March 23, 2026 03:27 PM PHT

|

Updated March 24, 2026 12:42 AM PHT

Read More:

Commission on Appointments

Imee Marcos

Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

politics

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