MANILA, June 30 (Xinhuanet) -- Philippine presidential spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye said on Thursday that rumors of an impending wide-ranging cabinet revamp are baseless, shortly after the resignation of agriculture secretary Arthur Yap.

    In a radio interview, Bunye said although the president has the sole authority to change members of her cabinet any time, speculations of a sweeping cabinet overhaul are just speculations.

    "Secretary Yap's situation is unique." Bunye said the resignation of Yap has nothing to do with a cabinet revamp.

    In his resignation statement, Yap said although the tax case filed against him was not related to his position as agriculture secretary, he had "come to realize that to stay on while this case is pending, is a no-win situation for myself and the President I serve."

    President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has yet to name Yap's successor, Bunye said.

    As to allegations that Yap was made a sacrificial lamb owing to his supposed closeness to first gentleman Jose Miguel T. Arroyo, Bunye said allegation was part of the opposition's campaign to discredit the Arroyo administration.

    Earlier Thursday, agriculture secretary Arthur Yap resigned from his post to face charges of tax evasion filed against him by the Bureau of Internal Revenue. Enditem