Malacañang assured Saturday that government functions will carry on despite the resignation of government officials who will be running for the May elections.

This came despite reports that there are still no developments on the replacement of several high officials in the Executive Branch who tendered their resignation recently.

Deputy presidential spokesman Ricardo Saludo said Saturday over Radyo ng Bayan that President Arroyo is yet to give the names of new appointees who will serve in the Executive Branch in her remaining term in office.

“Let’s just wait for the official statement of Malacañang. I myself have not received any development on this,” Saludo said in Pilipino.

“The only thing I can assure you is that these positions being vacated will not compromise public service, especially important decisions and functions in the government,” he said, stressing that all of these will have a proper turnover to whoever will succeed the posts vacated.

“We cannot allow a disruption of public service or a compromise of the national interest,” Saludo said.

Saludo also did not give a timetable on when the name of the new appointees will be released. He said it will be up to the President.

“What is important is that the functions of the government agencies affected by the resignations will not be disrupted,” Saludo said.

Among the Cabinet officials who have submitted their courtesy resignations in a bid to run for the upcoming elections include Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera, Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr., Presidential Management Staff (PMS) chief Hermogenes Esperon Jr., and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) director general Augusto Syjuco Jr.