Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was sad at the breakaway of her trusted Cabinet friends, the government said Saturday.

Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said in a statement that President Arroyo was personally affected by the call of some of her Cabinet secretaries for her resignation.

"The president feels saddened and betrayed that those cabinet members whom she considered as trusted and loyal friends were the first ones to abandon her at a time she needed them most," Bunye said.

A total of 10 Cabinet members led by Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima Friday announced to resign and asked President Arroyo to do the same, which was dubbed as "Cabinet coup."

Bunye, however, noted that the president would stay in her office despite such setback.

"The president is determined to defend the Constitution and the rule of law and to ensure that the welfare of the people will not be undermined by the current political instability," Bunye said.

President Arroyo Friday also slammed in a speech that what the ten Cabinet officials did "cause deep and grievous harm to the nation because they undermine our democratic principles and the very foundation of our Constitution."

She resisted calls for her to resign and then named new ones to replace those who have resigned in the Cabinet.

Source: Xinhua