Palace says Marcos aware that Bautista needs to take a rest

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on Thursday denied that President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. was dissatisfied with the performance of resigned Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista.

''When the President and Secretary Bautista talked about it, it became clear to the President that Secretary Bautista may really need to take a rest from official duties,'' Bersamin told Palace reporters.

Asked if Bautista was asked to resign, Bersamin denied it and said, ''There is no other consideration there except to allow Secretary Bautista to have more health.'' 

Vince Dizon was appointed as the new secretary of the Department of Transportation (DOTr). The DOTr had confirmed that Bautista is stepping down to give attention to his health.

Dizon's former government posts included being president of Bases Conversion and Development Authority, deputy chief implementer of the National Task Force Against COVID-19, and former presidential adviser for flagship programs and projects.

Meanwhile, asked about the status of Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Ivan Uy and Presidential Communications Office Acting Secretary Cesar Chavez, Bersamin said he has yet to know if reports about them leaving their government posts were true.

''But usually, speculations are very, are always there. Eh hindi naman namin pwedeng sabihin sa inyo unless, until na nangyari na 'yun because, you know, we do not have compelling reasons,'' he said. —LDF, GMA Integrated News