Marking President Bongbong Marcos Jr.’s 100th day in Malacañang, three officials made their way out of the Palace. According to political analyst Jean Franco, the resignation of three cabinet members can benefit the administration.  "Because at the very least, the administration can finally settle once the appointments that are going to be made have been finally approved by the Commission on Appointments (CA)," Franco said. 

On Tuesday, Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles, officially stepped down from her position due to “certain medical conditions.” Back in September, Angeles made a false claim regarding the US trip of the President. She claimed that Marcos was the only head of the state which engaged in a bilateral talk with US President Joe Biden. Hours after the announcement, Angeles publicly apologized in a press conference in New York for the fallacious statement. 

Before entering politics, Angeles was a lawyer and a blogger running the Luminous by Trixie Cruz-Angeles & Ahmed Paglinawan. 

Apart from the Press Secretary, Commission on Audit Chairman Jose Calida also filed for resignation on the same day, October 4. The reason behind his resignation had yet to be confirmed. Calida was known for his support of the previous administration under Duterte and was an avid loyalist of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. Additionally, after getting appointed as the solicitor general during the Duterte administration, his net worth rose from P36.9 million in 2017 to P73.4 million in 2021. 

Lastly, on September 17, Executive Secretary Victor Rodriguez vacates his post in the office to “witness firsthand your young family grow and evolve into how every parent would wish them to become.” As mentioned by Rodriguez, being an executive secretary or deemed as the “little president” and a top-ranking executive in the Office of the President meant “a 24/7 job with myriad topics expected to be attended to every day.” By fully committing to this career, he needed to sacrifice his time as a father and a husband - which Rodriguez cannot compromise. 

After his resignation, Press Secretary Angeles publicized Rodriguez’s new role as the Presidential Chief of Staff under Administrative Order (AO) No. 1. It is a position with “the rank and emoluments of a Cabinet secretary,” Angeles stated. 

Following this announcement, current Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin denied the existence of AO 1. “He (Rodriguez) is no longer a member of the Cabinet. You must recall that he resigned due to a specific reason and that reason is well-published,” Bersamin clarified. 

During the brief time of Rodriguez in service, his integrity got tested by numerous scandalous acts. Earlier in September, he “illegally” ordered importing 300,000 metric tons of sugar. Furthermore, though he dismissed it, Rodriguez’s name got caught up also into an alleged scheme that offered a prestige government position for P100 million to a potential appointee backed by a religious group. 

While the public officials continue to decrease, and the rising number of hunger and poverty in the country remains unresolved, the President is out abroad with a lavish lifestyle, “establishing stronger bonds” with other nations. The political muddle within the Palace is a strong manifestation of incompetency and disorder. 

As the boat continues to sink, only those who can turn a blind eye and endure the impunity under the hands of malicious lies can survive in a corrupt government. 

References:

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1675202/day-of-exits-angeles-calida-resign-rodriguez-out

https://www.rappler.com/nation/jose-calida-resigns-commission-audit-chief/