(UPDATE) Department of Information and Communications Technology Secretary Rodolfo Salalima has resigned, President Rodrigo Duterte confirmed Thursday.

Speaking to reporters in Marawi City, Duterte said Salalima resigned "out of delicadeza."

The President, who visited the war-torn city for the fifth time Thursday as state offensives against terrorists wrapped up, said Salalima submitted his resignation letter Wednesday night.

Duterte said he is looking for the best replacement for the official, who formerly worked as chief counsel in a telecommunications firm and was the President's classmate at the San Beda law school.

Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said in a statement that Salalima cited personal and work-related reasons in filing his resignation.

Salalima was behind efforts to bring Wi-Fi internet connection to the public and spearheaded the creation of the blueprint for the P77.9-billion national broadband plan, aimed at delivering internet service to far-flung areas in the country and boosting internet speeds.

Salalima is a magna cum laude graduate of philosophy and a law cum laude graduate from San Beda College.

He has with him over 40 years of experience in the telecommunications industry, including being a member of the executive committee of the National ICT Advisory Council, president of the Philippine Chamber of Telecommunications Operators, Inc. (PCTO), and board director of the Telecoms Infrastructure Corporation of the Philippines (TELICPHIL).-- reports from Raphael Bosano and Dharel Placido, ABS-CBN News