By Argyll Cyrus Geducos  The Inter-agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases said it respects Ernesto Pernia's decision to resign as Socioeconomic Planning secretary despite being clueless about his reason for stepping down. Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles (Photo from Karlo Nograles / Facebook page / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN) IATF spokesperson and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles made the statement days after Pernia disclosed that he resigned due to personal reasons and "differences in development philosophy with fellow Cabinet members." In a radio interview, Nograles said he was clueless about Pernia's reason for resigning from his post amid the country's fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. "I’m not aware of the reasons behind that. Cryptic din sa akin yung reasons na binigay nya (His reasons are cryptic)," Nograles said. He added that they were surprised when they heard the news about Pernia's resignation because they were having an IATF meeting that day. "Pero 'di ko matandaan, parang wala yata siya during that IATF meeting, tapos nakita na lang namin sa news na nagbitiw na pala siya ng pwesto," Nograles said. (I don't remember, but I don't think he was in our IATF meeting that day. We just saw on the news that he resigned.) "Actually, between us Cabinet secretaries nagtatanungan kami kung ano nangyari, pero wala ni isa sa amin ang makasagot, hindi namin alam." (we were asking each other why he resigned but no one knew why.) Nograles said he respects Pernia's decision to step down. "Syempre nakakalungkot na nag-resign siya, dahil nakasama na rin namin siya eh, and nasasayangan kami obviously," he said. (Of course we are sad that he resigned, because we worked with him, and we think it's regrettable, obviously.) "Nakakalungkot man (It may be saddening but) we also obviously respect his decision. Although personally I really don't know the reasons behind the resignation," he added. Chua to do good Meanwhile, Nograles said they expect acting National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Karl Chua, who replaced Pernia, to do well in his new post. "Familiar naman sa amin si Secretary Karl Chua. Kasi naka trabaho naman namin, kaya mabuti na rin," he said. (We're already familiar with Secretary Chua. Because we've already worked with him, so it's all good.) "Ilan beses na rin namin siya nakasama sa IATF meetings namin, so sanay na rin kami sa work ethic ni Karl (He's joined us in some IATF meetings so we're used to his work ethic). And we know that Secretary Karl Chua will do a very good job," he added. Malacañang announced that President Duterte appointed Chua as NEDA officer-in-charge after confirming that the President accepted Pernia's resignation. READ MORE: Pernia quits as NEDA chief, Duterte accepts his resignation