MANILA — The Philippines' Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), the government agency responsible for digital connectivity, cybersecurity, and digitalization programs, has confirmed the resignation of Henry Rhoel R. Aguda as the agency's secretary.

"I extend my heartfelt gratitude to President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. for the trust and opportunity to have served as Secretary of the DICT," Mr. Aguda said in a statement on Monday.

News of his departure first surfaced over the weekend, after Ombudsman Jesus Crispin C. Remulla, the country's top anti-graft official, said Mr. Aguda had stepped down amid issues surrounding ghost internet projects. In September, the DICT announced that it was preparing to release a tool to help monitor the operations of free Wi-Fi sites following reports of such projects.

Mr. Aguda was appointed DICT secretary in March 2025, succeeding former chief Ivan John E. Uy. President Marcos has yet to name a replacement, and the DICT has not disclosed who will serve as officer-in-charge. Who leads the agency next — and whether the free Wi-Fi monitoring tool the DICT said in September it was preparing to release proceeds — are the immediate items to watch.

"Under his leadership, the DICT strengthened efforts to expand digital connectivity, promote cybersecurity and data privacy awareness, accelerate government digitalization, and champion emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence to improve public service delivery and productivity for all Filipinos," the DICT said in a separate statement.

Reporting by Ashley Erika O. Jose; first published by BusinessWorld Online.