Let us begin with the replacement of Maria Belen “Mabel” Sunga Acosta, the chairperson of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), by Leo Tereso Abellera Magno. On the surface, it is quite unlawful given the fact that the term of office of a MinDA Secretary is six years, as mandated by Republic Act 9996.
Mabel was appointed by then-President Rodrigo Duterte in 2022 after his first appointee, Abulkhayr Alonto, died during his term, and his second, Manny Piñol, resigned to run for senator. Acosta’s term as MinDa secretary was supposed to end in 2028.
By far, Secretary Acosta appeared to have neither a criminal nor a negative administrative record, although we do not know what is in the files of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. She has an impressive career and educational background and served as city councilor of Davao for several terms.
Her supposed replacement, Leo Magno, is actually no pushover himself, backed by an educational and corporate background. He has served in government in various positions and was recruited by President Marcos Jr. as Presidential Assistant for Mindanao and now as Chairman and Secretary of MinDa in lieu of Mabel.
The appointment papers of Secretary Leo Magno had been seen around. In response, MinDa Secretary Mabel Acosta issued an official statement dated 20 May 2024 which said, in part: “The post of Secretary and chairperson of the Mindanao Development Authority is not officially vacant. Hence, a replacement is not warranted.”
It sounded like an affront to Malacañang, maybe imbued with confidence that her tenure of office was assured by law. Any way you look at it, the subject is a legal problem.
Well, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, before whom Magno took his oath of office, has issued a memo to Acosta citing jurisprudence related to Republic Act 9996. The salient part of the letter states that her “term of office was terminated for cause due to loss of confidence in you by the appointing power.” End of argument.
Hardly had talk of Mabel’s ouster settled when breaking news about Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri’s resignation cropped up even before the broadcast media signed on and the newspapers ran the presses for their first edition.
This was to be confirmed later during the Senate session when Senator Migz from Bukidnon delivered his emotional swan song. Sen. Chiz Escudero, who is normally seen in the Senate hall in casual attire, appeared this time in a dapper barong and with his lovely wife, Heart Evangelista, ready for the occasion.
The change in the Senate leadership came as a big surprise. The coup was quick and faster than a blink. From his own mouth, Senator Zubiri said it was a political move by the powers that be. His fault, as he said in a later interview, was not stopping a Senate committee hearing into a PDEA leak on a drug issue that dragged in the President’s name and his failure to speed up Senate hearings on the move to amend the Constitution through a People’s Initiative.
Seen covering his face to hide his tears while Senator Zubiri was delivering his speech was Sen. Bato dela Rosa, chairman of the investigating committee. Bato later became the object of discourse for it turned out that he, too was in on the plot to oust Zubiri. Caught on camera with a wide smile from ear-to-ear was Sen. Jinggoy Estrada. He was designated Senate Pro Tempore this time for being the good boy.
Two strikes against Mindanaoans.
Well, that’s realpolitik at play by those whom Senator Zubiri described as “the power that be.” Not for the faint-hearted but such is the nature of what oftentimes happens in the government bureaucracy.
