The Board of Directors of Philippine gaming regulator PAGCOR, including Chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco, have tendered courtesy resignations this week in response to a directive from Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Tengco, along with PAGCOR President and COO Wilma Eisma and directors Jose Maria Ortega, Francis Democrito Concordia and Gilbert Cesar Remulla, all followed the directive, the agency said in a statement, although IAG understands that President Marcos is expected to reject their resignations.
“We serve at the pleasure of the President and we will accept whatever the Chief Executive’s decision will be,” Tengco is quoted as saying in the statement.
The dramatic turn of events comes after President Marcos last week directed the courtesy resignations of all government heads of agencies and secretary-ranked officials, then expanded the directive earlier this week to include all ranking executives of Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCCs), of which PAGCOR is one.
IAG understands that Tengco tendered his courtesy resignation even before GOCCs were directed to do so.
By calling on such resignations, President Marcos is essentially providing himself a free hand to determine and choose the right people within each agency or GOCC who can best serve and deliver.
The Governance Commission for GOCCs earlier explained that the President was “[realigning] government priorities in response to the evolving expectations of the Filipino people and [ensuring] that the Administration remains dynamic, accountable and responsive.”
All Cabinet members submitted their courtesy resignations last week, however the President was quick to retain the key members of his economic team including his Finance Secretary, Trade Secretary, Development Secretary and Budget Secretary.