THE signing of the country’s 2025 annual budget by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., with all his vetoed items was a big letdown to the Filipinos who turned out in an unprecedented number in 2022 to elect him with a majority vote that not even his late father, former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., could claim credit for himself.

Unfortunately, Mr. Marcos misread the message of those who wanted a legacy for him to be the best president ever to avenge and vindicate his father’s and family’s downfall in 1986.

Before the end of 2024, and before the Filipinos’ eyes, PBBM showed he does not have the political will to turn his back on his close circle, particularly those who plot against his constituents making it known to all that that the grand thievery of people’s taxes will have priority under his government.

The decision of PBBM to keep the budget for Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita (AKAP) for the implementation in the first quarter of 2025 (Translation: during the campaign period for the midterm elections) is clearly in aid of the election of candidates under his wing to be undertaken by the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

It is a barefaced vote-buying of voters “whose income does not exceed the statutory minimum wage…” and who are severely affected by rising inflation.” And since this is a one-time financial assistance, there will be no measuring of level of success for the impact of the program except in the number of successful election of PBBM candidates.

It’s almost comical that a qualified recipient is defined as a minimum-wage earner and proof of which is a contract of employment with compensation. It means anyone can make his/her own contract citing a non-existent employer.

Tomorrow, the Iglesia Ni Cristo will stage its national rally for peace ostensibly to oppose the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte.  However, due to Filipinos’ growing frustrations over the corruption in the Marcos administration, more groups will likely advocate for his resignation as well, but strangely, this will be opposed by the leftist groups who, over the decades, have consistently pursued their cause to destabilize the government.

So, between the submission of the impeachment complaints vs. VP Sara Duterte, the trial at the senate, the campaign and acceptance of results of elections and the increasing momentum fight vs. Corruption, we must brace ourselves for a series of chaotic political events this year that will impact not only on our economy but further divide by our people by partisanship.

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