President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. officially appointed Ralph Recto as the new Executive Secretary and Frederick Go as the Finance Secretary in a ceremony held at Malacañang on November 19, 2025. These appointments followed the resignation of Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin and Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, who stepped down to allow the administration to address ongoing investigations into alleged anomalies in flood control projects. The Palace Press Officer, Claire Castro, emphasized that the resignations were a proactive measure to ensure the integrity of the offices and provide the administration with the freedom to address the issues raised in the investigations.
Recto, with his extensive experience in national planning, fiscal policy, and legislative reforms, is poised to take on the day-to-day operations of the Office of the President, enhance inter-agency coordination, and drive the administration's high-impact programs. Go, previously serving as Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs, will lead the Department of Finance, building on his track record of advancing investment pipelines, aligning economic initiatives across agencies, and boosting investor confidence in a challenging global economic environment.
These leadership changes underscore the President's commitment to institutional strengthening and clean governance, even as inquiries into alleged budget irregularities continue.
