By Farah G. Decano

PRESIDENT Bongbong Marcos has already named some of his re-appointees as of this writing. He has re-appointed Secretary Ralph Recto of the Department of Finance and Secretary Amenah Pangandaman of the Department of Budget; transferred Secretary Popo Lotilla from the Department of Energy to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources; promoted Undersecretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro to Secretary of Foreign Affairs; CIDG Chief General Nicolas Torre to Chief of the Philippine National Police; and Commissioner Shirley Agrupis to Chair of the Commission on Higher Education; and appointed UP College of Law Dean Lelen Berberabe as Solicitor General.

As mentioned in last week’s column, cabinet secretaries are mirrors of what the president values. They are, after all, considered his alter egos.

When President BBM first assumed office, the composition of his cabinet reflected his priority then—the projection of a UNITEAM image with the pro-Duterte forces—to make his campaign slogan with Vice President Sara Duterte look real. After the midterm elections and his bitter feud with his running mate, what does his new cabinet look like?

Definitely, the perceived pro-Duterte executives are out. The promotion of Secretary Lazaro hints at a softer approach to the West Philippine Sea dispute with China, while the appointments of Torre and Berberabe are a statement that the President shall be unyielding against those who would undermine his leadership. The latter two appear to be good Presidential choices.

What is worrisome is his retention of Secretary Recto and Secretary Pangandaman. Aren’t these two mostly responsible for BBM’s notoriety—the enactment and approval of what is touted as nation’s worst budget ever?

BBM’s popularity was on the rise after he positioned himself against Chinese incursions in the West Philippine Sea, the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators, FBI-wanted Apollo Quiboloy, and the allegedly fake Filipino, Alice Guo. The widely publicized crackdown against VP Sara’s confidential funds also made him appear as an astute and decisive leader.

But then, the 2025 budget fiasco came—the alleged last-second insertions and the transfer of PhilHealth funds. The public seems to view this as an attempt at corruption.

It is now appearing that BBM tows the line on issues regarding sovereignty, justice, and peace, but finds the topic of wealth irresistible.

We know how powerful the role of the Budget Secretary is in the performance of magic—the mystical appearance of funds for a certain purpose. During the time of President Noynoy Aquino, Secretary Butch Abad did that with his Disbursement Acceleration Program. This was later struck down by the Supreme Court as unconstitutional, even if it was justified by public purpose.

Because of their retention, did BBM intend for Secretaries Recto and Pangandaman to perform more questionable funding and last-minute insertions? But for what? For whom? At whose expense?

I hope BBM knows that his favoritism for some secretaries signals his priorities.

Talk about gut feeling. That was my topic a few issues ago. I did not have a good one about Secretary Pangandaman a few months after her assumption of office. When I saw her on the news boxing out VP Sara in a picture-taking event with BBM and the First Lady in Malacañang, I found such behavior very presumptuous. Why did she think she was entitled to stand beside BBM, when protocol dictates that the VP should be beside him? Did she think of herself as powerful as the First Lady? I pondered then what kind of influence this Budget Secretary truly commanded.

Now, I need not wonder why I felt something creepy about her. I cannot help but say, “Alams na dis”—a colloquial for “Now, I know.”

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