President Marcos Jr.’s priorities are: food security, taming inflation, heeding and delivering services to the people, efficiency, and dedication to serve.
Yet many of these priorities have not been met, esp. that of food security and constantly rising food inflation– despite increasingly huge volumes of all types of food items– to the detriment of both local producers/farmers and consumers. No wonder, the axe could fall of Francis Tiu Laurel Jr., whose leadership at the Department of Agriculture was neither here nor there.
Another is the inability to properly communicate the President’s messages in a manner that people could relate to. Here we have the Jay Ruiz, the fourth Secretary of the Palace Communication’s Department, whose numerous blunders in statements and pronouncements have enraged the President.
MISUSE OF FUNDS
Next we have Antonio Lagdameo Jr., special assistant to the president and Presidential Management Staff Sec. Elaine Masukat, whose task it was to promote the Alyansa senatorial candidates but failed miserably in the results of the midterm election. Lagdameo a longtime friend of Marcos is said to have mishandled the campaign in BARMM– long considered a bailiwick of the Marcos administration, where not one of the 10 Alyansa candidates won, Politiko noted.
Another blunder of Lagdameo was the allegation in October 2024 of TESDA Director General Suharto Mangudadatu that Lagdameo received “billions of pesos” in misused BARMM funds.
Another item on Masukat is her closeness Alyansa campaign manager, Rep. Toby Tiangco, who is being blamed for the lackluster performance of Alyanasa in the midterm polls.Masukat, a longtime Tiangco aide, previously served as his COS in Congress and as Navotas city administrator during his mayoralty. She was appointed PMS secretary in January 2023, succeeding Zenaida Angping, who resigned amid controversy involving her husband’s alleged sexual misconduct in Thailand.
Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin… is said to be in chopping block amid alleged issues of corruption and mismanagement in his office. Reports have reached the President detailing hires and oversight lapses within OES prompting concerns of his leadership…
POLITICAL FALLOUT
Sultan Kudarat Governor Pax Ali Mangudadatu directly blamed Lagdameo for the region’s political fallout, accusing him of prioritizing politics over governance. In a May 15 radio interview, Mangudadatu said project delays in Mindanao began as early as August 2024 due to politicking attributed to Lagdameo, who also has his beef with First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos.
Next, the weak defense in the legislature and the Supreme Court on the transfer of PhilHealth excess funds to the treasury by Finance Secretary Ralph Recto and Health Secretary Teddy Herbosa. The current state of public health is still miserably wanting.
Herbosa got flak for cozying up to big tobacco execs while public health systems continue to lag, Politiko added.
MISMANAGEMENT
Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin (formerly a SC Associate Justice), the second little president in three years, is said to be in chopping block amid alleged issues of corruption and mismanagement in his office. Reports have reached the President detailing hires and oversight lapses within OES prompting concerns of his leadership, Politiko said citing grapevine sources.
The attention of Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan has been repeatedly called for his pronouncements on poverty, the budget that a poor family can live on, and policies like the reduction of tariffs on imported food items that did not help control soaring inflation.
Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma is being blamed for not supporting wage hikes that workers have been clamoring for and his failure to put an end to ENDO (or end of contract, a scheme used by big business to forego payment of fixed salaries and benefits).
Laguesma, a Marcos Sr. era veteran, may be on his final round as labor chief. The President said the public is dismayed with government’s poor service.
Among the first to file their courtesy resignations were: Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian, newly-appointed Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, DICT Secretary Henry Aguda, and Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco.
FAVORING MINING FIRMS?
Environment Secretary Ma. Antonia Yulo- Loyzaga, who headed the DENR since 2022, has been mostly on travel pursuing her past advocacies on climate change. She is recognized for her science-based approach to climate resilience, environmental governance, and disaster risk reduction.
But she is being blamed for her lackluster performance in preserving natural resources and favoring mining companies.
Meanwhile, President Marcos also assured that Cabinet members who have delivered and continue to deliver “will be recognized.”
A recent appointment of the President is Rene Almendras who joins LEDAC (Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council) as private sector representative.
REMULLAS IN CABINET
Marcos is said to be considering a member of the influential Remulla clan to replace Bersamin. Currently, two Remulla brothers already serve in the Cabinet: Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla and Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla.
The President, however, is reportedly cautious about the optics of appointing a third “little president” since he took office in 2022.
Bersamin, a retired Supreme Court Associate Justice, was appointed to the powerful post after lawyer Vic Rodriguez resigned just three months into the job.
Bersamin reportedly proposed a limited reshuffle following the election setback, but Marcos was said to have rejected the suggestion in favor of a sweeping overhaul.
SUBSTANDARD
Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan could be axed on account of substandard materials in vital infrastructure projects and delays in completion of vital roads, highways, and bridges. Also reports of recent bridges collapsing and road accidents have become sore spots in the Marcos administration.