Estrada plans Cabinet revamp

Estrada plans Cabinet revamp

MANILA (Reuters): Philippine President Joseph Estrada said on Wednesday he had asked his ministers and top advisers to submit "courtesy resignations" to clear the way for a government shake- up.

Estrada gave the strongest signal yet of his plans to drop some of his advisers in the face of growing criticism from media and opposition groups of supposed government indecisiveness.

Local media have reported turf wars among some of Estrada's advisers, including one between a minister and his deputy which prompted Estrada to intervene and patch up the quarrel.

Recently, Estrada dropped two advisers holding non-cabinet ranks, one for alleged impropriety and the other for supposedly passing bad cheques before he joined the government.

Former president Fidel Ramos, Estrada's predecessor, has also said the slow pace of reforms and the indecisiveness of the Estrada administration were hurting the country's image among foreign investors.