Philippine president Gloria Arroyo Friday appointed six new cabinet members as officers-in-charge of the offices vacated by those who resigned.

Arroyo named Mario Relampagos as budget secretary, Roberto Tan as finance secretary, Tom Aquino as trade secretary and Ramon Bacani as education secretary.

Lualhati Pablo and Naser Pangandaman were appointed as social welfare and agrarian reform secretaries respectively.

The president's appointment, which came effective immediately, was announced by press secretary Ignacio Bunye.

Arroyo has not named replacements for two presidential advisers who also resigned.

The new officers-in-charge will replace six of the ten cabinet members who resigned earlier Friday.

Arroyo, who is under huge pressure from the opposition, refused to step down herself in her broadcast statement Friday afternoon.

Source: Xinhua