OTR: Marcos Jr Calls for Cabinet Resignations After Midterm Blow

The announcement came in the wake of the 2025 midterm elections, where many of Marcos’ allies failed to secure Senate seats.

“The people have spoken, and they expect results — not politics, not excuses. We hear them, and we will act,” Marcos said.

In contrast, five of the endorsed candidates by Vice President Sara Duterte won Senate seats.

To the surprise of many, two candidates from the opposition Liberal Democratic Party — known for their anti-Duterte and anti-Marcos stance — also broke into the top 12. Elected were Senators Francis Pangilinan and Bam Aquino, both closely associated with the late President Benigno Aquino III, a vocal critic of both the Marcos and Duterte camps.

The Marcos administration maintains that the call for courtesy resignations is intended to give the president the flexibility to assess each department’s performance and ensure alignment with his recalibrated priorities.

“This is not about personalities — it’s about performance, alignment, and urgency,” said Marcos. “Those who have delivered, and continue to deliver, will be recognised. But we cannot afford to be complacent. The time for comfort zones is over.”

Most Cabinet members complied, including Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, who recently led the signing of a new defence agreement between New Zealand and the Philippines.

Senate Seats and Their Significance

In Philippine politics, midterm elections are more than a simple checkpoint — they’re a powerful gauge of a sitting president’s political clout. A president’s ability to get their endorsed senatorial candidates elected is widely seen as a measure of influence, and it often shapes the narrative heading into the next presidential race.

For President Marcos Jr, however, the 2025 results point to a weakening grip on power.

This year’s midterms carry additional weight, as they will influence the looming impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, set to commence on July 30.

She faces serious allegations: misuse of confidential and intelligence funds; making threats against President Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez; failure to assert Philippine sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea; and alleged acts of insurrection.

To convict Duterte, at least 16 of the 24 senators must vote in favour. The 12 newly elected senators will join 12 sitting members to form the chamber that will decide her fate. An acquittal only requires nine votes, and as it stands, Duterte appears to retain a loyal base—meaning she may only need to sway one or two swing votes to survive.

If acquitted, Duterte is expected to re-emerge as a strong contender in the 2028 presidential election. If convicted, she will be constitutionally barred from holding public office—now and in the future.

Declining Popularity and Talk of Reconciliation

According to the latest Pulse Asia survey released after the elections, President Marcos Jr’s trust rating rose slightly to 32% in May, up from 29% in April.

In contrast, former President Rodrigo Duterte’s rating dipped from 64% to 63%, while Vice President Sara Duterte’s rating dropped more notably from 57% to 50%. Despite the dip, both Dutertes remain more trusted than President Marcos.

The rift between the Marcos and Duterte families has made headlines for over a year. Once hailed as a "dream team" during the 2022 national elections, their alliance has since deteriorated, both politically and personally.

What began as a marriage of convenience eventually turned into open hostility — culminating in the International Criminal Court’s arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte. He is currently detained in The Hague, Netherlands, awaiting trial for alleged crimes against humanity.

In a podcast interview aired on May 19 with Filipino broadcaster Anthony Taberna, Marcos was asked: “Mr President, in your heart, do you want to reconcile with the Duterte family?”

He responded, “Yes. Personally, I don’t want conflict. I want to get along with everyone. That’s better. I already have many enemies — I don’t need more. I need friends.”

His conciliatory comment came just days after Vice President Duterte said she welcomed her upcoming Senate impeachment trial—filed by Speaker Romualdez and Representative Sandro Marcos, the president’s cousin and son. Duterte called it a “bloodbath” she was ready for.

Yesterday, while attending the ASEAN Summit in Malaysia, President Marcos told the press he never supported the impeachment of the vice president.

“Why do I have to keep explaining that I don’t support the impeachment?” Marcos said, in a slightly exasperated tone.

Rebuilding Public Trust

In the same interview, President Marcos candidly reflected on his administration's shortcomings. 

"I realised we failed to give ample attention to smaller issues that would bring people more immediate relief... People are disappointed with government services because of slow progress on projects that make no tangible difference in their daily lives," he admitted.

Following his remarks, calls for mass Cabinet resignations swiftly followed. 

Political analysts see the mass resignations as a strategic effort to restore public confidence after what many perceive as a midterm blow to the administration. Whether this “reset” leads to real reform or simply serves as political theatre remains to be seen.

- Asia Media Centre