The next administration

It’s not surprising for an incoming president to appoint candidates who lost in national or local positions. This is what the next administration will most likely do, after the mandatory one-year ban on losing candidates taking up government positions lapses. So far only two Cabinet posts have been filled when presumptive president Marcos Jr. takes office. I can only imagine those jockeying for positions by “whispering” into Marcos’ ear or those recommended by those close to him. Again, this practice is not uncommon in all administrations.

There are calls for the next administration to continue programs under the Duterte administration such as the drug war. How Marcos Jr. will handle this remains to be seen. Will we see a new round of “tokhang” victims? Will Marcos add to the already numerous cases of extrajudicial killings? Or will we see a more humane approach to the illegal drug problem?

What the business sector is closely watching is who will comprise Marcos’ economic team. The country’s debt has ballooned to ?12 trillion. That’s 12 with 12 zeroes. Let that sink in for a moment. That’s around ?110,000 every Filipino, including children, must cough up to service that debt. The economy must be revived to pay this massive debt brought about supposedly by the pandemic response. Inflation is high due to Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. That war isn’t seen to be over anytime soon.

Another program the current administration wants the next one to continue is the pandemic response. The number of cases is closely being monitored as we approach the second week after the elections. Analysts are predicting a rise in cases, along with the discovery of another subvariant. Three cases of infection have been discovered so far, although it is supposedly not a variant of interest or concern. Still, the fact the coronavirus continues to mutate should keep everyone on their toes. While things seem to be returning to normal, the precautions we have already been used to for the past two years must continue.

All administrations inherit problems. How the incoming administration handles them will define the presidency. Marcos has asked he be judged by his actions and not by his ancestors. That’s an admission of everything said about his father, Ferdinand Marcos Sr. We all know what they are. But something peculiar has happened to the Malacañang website. It contains information on the regime of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. The site remained inaccessible since Tuesday morning. The Presidential Museum and Library said, “contrary to reports its website has been deleted, it was merely suspended to update the content therein and improve its security features." Really? Right after it became clear another Marcos would soon reside in the Palace. Is this the beginning of another round of historical denialism now that the son and namesake of the dictator has been elected? I wonder what’s next?