MANILA, Philippines—Malacañang on Thursday declined to confirm reports that Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco has resigned.
In a press briefing, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said she has yet to receive instructions regarding making an announcement on the reported leadership change.
“Maybe yes, maybe no. We will make an announcement tomorrow,” Castro said in Filipino.
“I can't give any details right now. I haven't been given the paper yet, if ever there is one. Once there is an announcement that needs to be made, I will give it to you immediately,” she told reporters.
Online buzz has pointed to career trade diplomat Dita Angara-Mathay as Frasco’s replacement. She is currently the commercial counselor and special trade representative of the Philippines in Tokyo, Japan.
Talks have been rife that Frasco would leave the Cabinet over her perceived self-promotion instead of promoting the Philippines on the global stage and the lagging numbers of tourist arrivals as compared to the country’s neighbors in Southeast Asia, among others.
