Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday asked all cabinet members to submit their resignations following the underwhelming performance of administration-backed candidates in last week's midterm elections.

The Philippine News Agency quoted a presidential statement describing the move as part of "resetting the President's administration" after electoral results widely seen as a referendum on government performance. Only six of eleven government-endorsed candidates secured Senate seats.

In the official statement, President Marcos emphasized these were "protocol resignations" that would allow for "individual performance evaluations of each ministry and subsequent decisions about continuing service." He clarified the move wasn't "about personalities" but rather about "performance, alignment, and execution speed" in light of what he called "recalibrated government priorities."

"The new phase will be more transparent, faster in implementation, and entirely focused on addressing the people's urgent needs," the President added.

The Philippine midterm elections, held every three years to select half the Senate, all House members, and thousands of local officials, represent a critical political juncture. The May 12 elections saw record 82.2% voter turnout – the highest in Philippine midterm history – reflecting intense public engagement.

Analysts viewed the elections as a de facto referendum on the Marcos administration, which has faced mounting criticism and political tensions since taking office in 2022, particularly between the President and Vice President Sara Duterte, daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

The electoral outcome has intensified political debates, with the failure of several administration-backed Senate candidates interpreted by observers as signaling eroding government popularity. This follows visible fractures within the ruling coalition, including attempts to impeach the Vice President, and ongoing controversy surrounding the International Criminal Court's investigation into the former president's contentious drug war – developments that have deepened divisions in the Philippine political landscape.