Insights

The ouster of his father and the family's forced exile to the United States had made an impact on him and the redemption of the Marcos' name has been a magnificent obsession. Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr., achieved such a feat when more than 31 million overwhelmingly voted him as President of the country.

President Bongbong Marcos faces the formidable challenge of continuing the legacy of his predecessor and the sweeping reforms initiated by the latter and the Herculean task of replicating and even surpassing them to bring the Filipino people to rise above the difficulties of rising prices of basic commodities, the looming energy crisis, inadequate food production, demand for hike in salaries of government workers and industrial labor, poverty, and unemployment, the resurgence in illegal drug traffic, the country's ballooning indebtedness, the corruption in the government and a host of other problems that plague us.

PBBM has to contend with the increased bullying of China in the West Philippine Sea, and the continuing threat of terrorists and communist rebels. He must continue with the building of infrastructures to make our country attractive to foreign investments as the influx of foreign capital is needed to accelerate economic development in the countryside. He must be wary of politicians saying undeserved hosannas to get favors from his administration.

His six months in office is too short to gauge the performance of his administration. His vision of a better Philippines is outlined in his eight-point economic program. He has eloquently articulated them. His travels abroad have borne billions of investment pledges. His short-term responses to immediate needs like food supply, social services, and bringing economic benefits to those who need them are appreciated as evidenced by the high approval rating he has received.

He has envisioned a project that will bring a financial bonanza to the country by way of establishing a sovereign wealth fund. While many have expressed opposition and reservations on this contentious investment venture, as citizens we can only wish him well and hope that it hurdles the storm it faces.

The political Mona Lisa of last year's elections, Vice-President and concurrent Secretary of Education, the indefatigable and fiercely independent former Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Zimmerman Duterte, has come full circle. Refusing to heed the public clamor for her to seek the presidency, she settled for the second highest post of the land, to the shock and disappointment of her millions of admirers, but who nonetheless trooped to the polls to give her a staggering more than 2 million votes.

After being designated the education chief, she immediately went to work. She directed the return of face-to-face classes, despite concerns raised by the Department of Health, the parents and teachers. She made her positions on certain national issues clear. She wanted the children protected from nefarious influencers and abusers. She included in her budget intelligence funds to the consternation of her critics but the lawmakers seeing the wisdom of its inclusion gave it to her. She opened satellite offices in strategic cities to bring the Office of the Vice-President accessible to the people to attend to their concerns. As Secretary of Education, she is action-oriented, attending efficiently to the administrative concerns of the department and making sure that the school buildings and classrooms are safe and equipped for use and conducive to quality education.

As a government caretaker when the President is on official trips abroad, she runs the government with authority and toughness. Her message to law enforcement officials in enforcing the law: "We show no mercy to criminals and terrorists!"

That merciless message sent shivers and quivers to the enemies of the state — a foreshadowing of what her presidency will be like when her appointment with history comes to fruition.

Former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, to the everlasting dismay and bewilderment of his detractors, received an astronomical trust and approval rating of 88 percent in the survey ratings even after he stepped down from office, and constantly garnered high approval ratings, is enjoying his retirement. Disengaged from the burdens of the presidency, he leisurely goes through his daily life unburdened by sleepless working hours attending to the demands of the state that brought a toll on his health. He has now all the time to spend time with his younger daughter Kitty, who has blossomed into a beautiful young lady, in the six years that he was extremely busy steering the ship of state. He can go out of his house and to places without the PSG restricting his movement. If he is not playing with his grandchildren and great-granddaughter, he receives guests at home or attends social events in Davao, Manila, and elsewhere.

He purposely has not issued statements or comments on national issues, saying he is just an ordinary citizen now. His achievements as President in all aspects of society speak for themselves. His war against illegal drugs, criminality, corruption, terrorists, and communist rebels are legendary. So was his economic programs, social services to the people, care for the overseas Filipino workers, dizzying heights of infrastructures being enjoyed by the citizenry, principled stand against the abuses of superpowers, and friendship with other previously estranged countries, have made their mark and carved his name in the hearts and minds of the Filipino people. He can sit on his laurels with a smile on his face.

A man who is waiting to be given justice which he rightfully deserves but is denied, the former Undersecretary of Agriculture Leocadio Sebastián, remains in limbo.

The former Executive Secretary issued an order preventively suspending him for 90 days for dishonesty, serious misconduct, and act prejudicial to public service, after the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, whose head and members who voted with him, who should have known better, adjudged him administratively and criminally liable. He allegedly unlawfully issued Administrative Order No. 4 authorizing the importation of 300 thousand metric tons of sugar, when in truth and fact, it was the ex-ES, who, by his own admission in the Senate hearing, was the one who directed Mr. Sebastian to draft the order. The latter merely followed the instruction of the former, but he was made the scapegoat for the sugar fiasco. His 90 days preventive suspension ended on 25 November 2022, but presently is on a floating status.

Mr. Sebastian has a reputation for being a humble and honest government official. He has his Doctorate in Plant Breeding and Genetics from Cornel University and obtained his BS and MS from the University of the Philippines.

(To be continued)