PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has rejected the resignations of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla, and Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr., Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said Thursday, May 29, 2025.
In a press conference, Bersamin also announced that Marcos has accepted the resignation of Commission on Higher Education (Ched) Chairperson Prospero De Vera III as well as Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra.
De Vera, who had been serving as CHED chairperson since 2018, will be replaced by Ched Commissioner Shirley Agrupis, a former president of Mariano Marcos State University in Ilocos Norte, Marcos’ hometown.
“As far as I know, although it is not the official reason, you know si Ched chair De Vera has been there for two terms na, second term na niya ito. Maybe the President wanted to give a fresh start to the Ched or maybe there were other reasons,” said Bersamin.
“Hindi natin madi-discount na may factor diyan ‘yung mga intramurals doon sa Ched. I do not know I cannot particularize because I'm just generally aware of those particulars. A collegial body like the Ched always comes under such pressure from within, but I'm not going to say that that was the reason, I'm just guessing. That played a lot in the acceptance of resignation,” he added.
In a statement, De Vera thanked Marcos for the trust bestowed upon him and for giving him the opportunity to continue with the educational reforms in higher education.
“It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve the Filipino people and to give an opportunity to every aspiring young Filipino to achieve his/her dream of completing their university education through the Universal Access to Quality Education law (RA 10931). It has also been a privilege to work with committed colleagues in Ched and across the higher education sector to promote access, equity, and quality in Philippine higher education,” De Vera said.
“As I step down from this post, I do so with gratitude and pride in what we have achieved together, and I remain committed to supporting the nation's educational goals in any way I can,” he added.
Bersamin also announced that Darlene Marie Berberabe, who was named as the new solicitor general, took her oath and was administered by Marcos himself.
Berberabe is the current dean of the University of the Philippines (UP) College of Law.
She is a summa cum laude graduate of Philosophy from UP and class valedictorian of the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy in 1989.
The incoming solicitor general served as an associate lawyer in Baker McKenzie Manila, Philippines with specialization in labor law as well as Procter & Gamble Philippines where she was a senior counsel and member of the Leadership Team.
Berberabe has been recognized as an Outstanding CEO in Asia by the Association of Development Financing Institutions in Asia and the Pacific, outstanding CEO in the public sector by Asia CEO, one of the Ten Outstanding Women in Nation Service in 2013, and one of the 100 Most Influential Filipino Women in 2014.
“Si [outgoing solicitor general] Guevarra has been there since the beginning. Maybe it's time for him to go to another venture and so the President accepted his resignation to allow for fresh blood to come in,” said Bersamin.
Guevarra served as the secretary of justice under the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
He was appointed by Marcos in 2022 as the solicitor general.
In March, the Office of the Solicitor General recused itself from the case related to the petition filed by Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte, Davao City First District Representative Paolo Duterte and Veronica Duterte assailing the arrest of their father, former President Rodrigo Duterte.
The OSG then maintained that the Philippine Government has no legal obligation to cooperate with the International Criminal Court as it already withdrawn its membership to the Rome Statute, which established the body.
“I don’t think that that was a factor (recusal from Duterte case) at all because if you recall, there was a strong clamor for the termination or removal of [solicitor general] Guevarra. That time the public perception that gave rise to this clamor must have been about his taking the opposite side of the issue,” said Bersamin.
“But, you know, he and the President had a conversation about this and the President respected his ethical decision to recuse. Now if there was reservation about his professionalism at that time, the President could have already removed him, but the President continues to repose trust in him. So up to the decision to accept his resignation [solicitor general], Guevarra was still there,” he added.
Bersamin said all government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs) and Governance Commission for GOCCs (GCG) non-ex-officio chairpersons, CEOs, and all appointive directors/trustees/members of their respective GOCCs' governing boards have submitted their courtesy resignation following the call of Marcos.
He expressed confidence that this will have no impact on government operations, noting that the stability of policies will continue. (TPM/SunStar Philippines)