MANILA, Philippines – Jaime Ma. Flores II, chairman of the Governance Commission for Government Owned or Controlled Corporations (GCG), is the first Cabinet member under the Duterte administration to quit.

Flores’ resignation, according to a report by ABS-CBN News, was effective last October 24. But on October 25, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea told Rappler he had not yet received Flores’ resignation letter.

President Rodrigo Duterte, asked to confirm Flores’ resignation on Thursday, October 27, said he was “not aware” of it.

The GCG is a government body tasked with screening appointees to Government Owned or Controlled Corporations (GOCCs). Supposed to be a deterrent to corrupt practices in GOCCs, the GCG can recommend to suspend members of a GOCC’s board.

The GCG was created under Republic Act No 10149 or the GOCC Governance Act of 2011. The chairperson of the GCG has the rank of cabinet official. His office is attached to the Office of the President.

Flores’ friends told Rappler they earlier saw a Facebook post of his about his resignation. A letter was said to have been addressed to people under him in the GCG. No immediate reason for the resignation was known. – Rappler.com