Relief and elation met the announcement of the former Executive Secretary of his resignation as such. However, the leakage of a draft administrative order and special order he crafted to insure his continued stay in the corridors of Malacañang, and granting him powers even going beyond that exercised by the ES, has doused the merriment of those celebrating his exit and profoundly worried on the erosion of the political capital of PBBM acquired by the latter's electoral victory.

In his resignation letter, the former ES, among others, stated:

"I have asked permission to step down as Executive Secretary."

Really? Or was he asked to tender his resignation owing to the realization by PBBM that he has become an embarrassment to his administration owing to the costly missteps he had, like causing the appointment of conflicted appointees, being the proximate cause of the sugar fiasco, making decisions that alienated the political patrons and friends of the President who only wanted the latter to succeed in the presidency?

Or could it be that he had seen the writing on the wall of his imminent departure as Executive Secretary due to his continued bungling of his job, and he therefore beat the President from firing him and hastily resigned his post?

In either case, the man who apparently earlier earned the confidence of the President for certain tasks he performed for the former following the loss of PBBM's vice-presidential bid, as well as his presidential foray, shrewdly and cunningly made sure that not only will he remain in power even as he visually and apparently loses it, but not making it difficult for PBBM to remove him in that most coveted Cabinet position, without appearing ungrateful to his erstwhile subaltern's loyalty.

He prepared the self-serving Administrative Order 1 creating the Office of the Chief of Staff of the President, which obviously he convinced PBBM to sign and to appoint him as the Presidential Chief of Staff, who in turn may have been persuaded to give him such graceful exit.

As the Chief of Staff of the President, he will undertake "the efficient and responsive day-to-day operational support of the President to enable the President to focus on strategic national concerns," including security monitoring and coordinating with presidential advisers.

In addition, as PCS, he "will be assisted by a senior deputy chief of staff with the rank of secretary and two deputy chiefs of staff with rank of undersecretary, assistant secretaries and such number of directorial and other administrative staff as he deems necessary and upon approval by the President." This guy wants to have his cake and eat it, too. His effrontery to be creatively insolent baffles the mind.

In citing family reason that moved him to step down as Executive Secretary, he stated:

"Equally valuable, however, is to witness firsthand your young family grow and evolve into how every parent would wish them to become and they most need me, too."

If that is true, why remain in public office? Why create another office and have himself appointed and in the process continue to be chained to government work in the Office of the President as the Presidential Chief of Staff, when such work will certainly and always compete with — and take his quality time from — his family?

(To be continued)