At face value, the inclusion of Senator Imee Marcos in the administration’s list of candidates may have seemed like a conciliatory gesture. It was certainly a surprise to people who have followed the political K-drama in Malacañang, where Senator Imee has been treated more as an outsider than presidential relative for at least a year if not more.
It’s tempting to call her inclusion as political window dressing to show that the Marcos Unity Team stands strong against all foes. To take it a step further, it was obviously an attempt to break the Imee-Sara alliance or friendship forged during Imee’s period of “destierro” and paint Imee as a “compromising politician” if she abandoned Sara Duterte.
But to her credit and lessons learned, Senator Imee stood her ground, politely thanked the administration for the inclusion and in the same breathe declared her independence. That was a very polite “Thanks, but no thanks.”
It is often said that when it comes to family, “blood is thicker than water.” But judging from the many hits and hurts that Imee Marcos suffered from relatives and ex-friends, I surmise that Imee’s version is now: “Blood is thicker, but venom is more poisonous.”
With all her political experience and wisdom, Imee knows a possible set-up or booby trap come campaign and election time. If Senator Imee relies on her being a presidential sister and administration candidate, she could be left hanging in terms of funds and political support. Imee knows that more than anything, she is window dressing for the administration for many reasons.
But when the campaign and elections get really tough and close, favor will go to the candidates who bring something to the table apart from family ties and an independent mind. Many of those in the administration’s senatorial line-up represent a political party, a bailiwick, interest groups, funds or star power. With PBBM already President, Imee brings nothing else. The chances of her being dropped or “malaglag” are high and inevitable.
She has no guarantee that she will have the full support of the administration, particularly a Congress headed by Speaker Romualdez. Deny it as much as they want, but even their own friends and relatives swear that there is no love lost between them. Instead, it’s all distrust and distaste.
Declaring herself to be an “independent candidate” allows Imee to have her cake and eat it too. She can thumb her nose at those who cancelled her politically, show Filipinos the value of loyalty to those who stood by her during her political “exclusion” and prove to the Duterte supporters that she has courage as much as her friend Sara Duterte.
There is a popular post on social media that says: “Don’t stay where you are disrespected. Go where you are recognized.” If Senator Imee lives up to her independence, loyalty to friends and cause and continues to be tactical and strategic in her narrative and objectives, she may have more to offer to voters than the troublemakers or “Gawa Gulo” inside the administration.
* * *
Now that the senatorial list of different groups have been posted on social media, the next newsworthy item going around is who else will be declaring their candidacy and resigning from government? Even before the official announcement, it was already common knowledge that DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos would be running for senator.
The question that is now being asked is who will take over his position. A regular visitor to Malacañang shared that there are already three possible candidates for SILG. One is a Marcos BFF who allegedly wants the job but does not want to leave his “desk” or “chair” in Malacañang. A crisis of choice or wanting two jobs at the same time? Unfortunately, the individual lacks experience and exposure among LGUs nationwide.
The second more qualified individual is quietly occupying the governor’s chair in Quirino Province, unmindful of the rumors. He is none other than Governor Dax Cua, who happens to be the head of the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines. Cua represents the young, modern, informed but humble generation of leaders who understand the value of innovation, technology and pro-active leadership in governance. The question is, would he take it, if offered?
There is a third individual, but my sources note that his name also cropped up during the search for the DA secretary earlier, so he is unlikely to get onto the list inside the office of the Executive Secretary.
* * *
Last Thursday, Sept. 26, I happened to visit the NAIA/NNIC and as I was being accompanied by one of the terminal officers, I struck up a conversation to find out how the NAIA employees have reacted to the new management and takeover of the NNIC.
The officer did not miss a beat while walking and filling me in on how happy and grateful the employees were to be under the private sector, particularly NNIC-SMC. The officer talked about the unexpected salary increases given to employees that now placed them on a competitive level to employees of airport locators.
The positivity was evident in the tone and expression of the officer, so I asked how all that translated in the attitudes and performance of their jobs. “We are clearly very motivated. Everyone’s paying more attention to their work and to their surroundings. We all know that it’s good to have higher pay, but we also know that the company has a higher expectation in terms of overall performance. Kung tamad ka, tanggal ka.”
As I went from building to building, it was noticeable and palpable. Change is coming with the new NNIC.