President Ferdinand Marcos  Jr speaks to US Vice President Kamala Harris over the phone on January 15, 2025. Presidential Communications Office/File

MANILA -- President Ferdinand Marcos Jr is currently evaluating the performance of the members of his Cabinet to see whether there is a need for a change in leadership in various government agencies,  Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro confirmed Tuesday.

The Presidential Communications official made the statement in response to questions that certain officials of the government will soon be replaced by the President.

"The President is still evaluating if there’s a need for a change of leaders in each department. So, wala pa po tayo; under evaluation pa po lahat," Castro said in a Palace briefing.

The official however denied that recent changes in the leadership of a number of government organizations were a result of such an evaluation. 

"May mga Cabinet members po kasi na nagri-resign – so, ang Pangulo po naman ay hindi naman po makakatanggi kung talaga pong gusto na ng isang Cabinet member o secretary na mag-resign. Like po Secretary Cesar Chavez, voluntary po iyong resignation niya so wala po tayong magagawa kung hindi talaga maghanap ng kaniyang kapalit," she said.

"So, ganoon lang po iyong nangyayari pero sabi nga po natin, as of now, kung ini-evaluate pa ang kung sino ang papalitan or kung may papalitan wala pa po tayong nadidinig, nag-e-evaluate pa lang po. It’s just normal for the President."

Castro also confirmed that there will be changes in the leadership of the Presidential Communications Office, following the assumption of veteran broadcast journalist Jay Ruiz as PCO ad interim Secretary. Ruiz however, has not yet required PCO officials to submit their courtesy resignations, she said.

"As of now, wala pa po tayong natanggap but nagkaroon na po ng meeting at sinabi niya po talaga na magkakaroon ng pagbabago at maaaring may ma-retain, maaaring may mawala. So, hintayin po natin kung ano iyong magiging order ni Sec. Jay Ruiz," she said.

READ: New DOTr chief asks officials to submit courtesy resignations