President BBM's appointments and disappointments

President BBM appointed a new Central Bank governor, Eli Remolona Jr., someone the nation doesn’t know. This is the post with the highest pay in government. BBM also ousted TESDA director-general Danilo Cruz and replaced him with a Mindanao politician. What is the rhyme and reason? Of course, that’s his presidential prerogative. But even prerogatives must rest on a rationale and the people deserve to know.

When it comes to choosing the Cabinet, none could match the quality of President Ferdinand Marcos Sr.'s judgment. BBM's father had many sins and failures but his wisdom in choosing people was one of his redeeming qualities. His choices include General Carlos P. Romulo, Cesar Virata, Blas F. Ople, Dr. Onofre Corpuz, and Dr. Jaime Laya.

BBM can’t yet hold a candle to his late father. The quality of his appointments don’t yet approximate his father's judgment. He appointed two old Ilocanos to Malacañang, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin and Juan Ponce Enrile, almost 100 years old. In fairness, both are legal luminaries and Bar topnotchers, Bersamin from UE and Enrile from UP. Both were Law professors and they enjoy BBM’s trust.

I’m sure with Bersamin’s loyalty. But Enrile, his father's closest confidante in proclaiming martial law, led the EDSA Revolt with Gen. FVR and sided with Cory. Now, he’s back with the Marcoses. How can we trust his loyalty? BBM should be wary of JPE. What happened in 1986 can happen again when the situation calls for it. History has the nasty habit of repeating itself.

BBM's choice of Gibo Teodoro for DND, Teodoro Herbosa for DOH, Susan Ople for DMW, and Benny Laguesma for DOLE are good. The choice of Christina Frasco as DOT secretary is music to the ears of Cebuanos and is a move to make the Garcias in Cebu beholden to this administration. And that means 3 to 4 million votes. In fairness, Christina is really competent and focused on her job. She’s a lawyer, an experienced LGU executive, and has never been linked to any shenanigans.

Frasco's being part of BBM's official family is a sign the Duranos are no longer the darlings of Malacañang, like those days under Marcos Sr. when Don Ramon Durano was the unquestioned kingpin of Cebu outside Cebu City. The unkindest cut to the Duranos was that the Tourism portfolio was given to the wife of Congressman Duke Frasco who destroyed the 50-year-old Durano Empire. That post was given by GMA to Ace, and in fairness he did well in DOT, not in the level of Richard Gordon, but certainly, not the way Wanda Tulfo did either.

BBM's appointment of DOTr’s Bautista is questionable because of the latter's conflict of interest with PAL, having been PAL president for the longest time. Bautista may be good at flying airplanes but he doesn't know how to manage airport operations. Under his watch, we have become the laughing stock in Asia as having the most unreliable airport in this part of the world. Because of the incompetence of NAIA and other airports, businessmen and government officials have started toying with the idea of privatizing airport operations.

The government is never good at doing all these. There have been a number of mishaps in sea transport, controversies in MARINA and DOTr, problems in LTO and LTFRB. Bautista should resign. Also, the DOJ is very much politicized. There are problems with peace and order and rumors about Customs and BIR. There are issues in the military and the police. The DILG secretary has exposed so much prejudgment in the Degamo-Teves political issues in Negros Oriental. Secretary Benhur Abalos is good but he is too much in a hurry to become senator, like DOJ's Boying Remulla.

Remulla may be good as congressmen, especially in the cancellation of the ABS-CBN franchise. But he’s making the DOJ a political office, making prejudgments on pending investigations, jumping the gun on subordinates still gathering evidence, making conclusions when charges aren’t even filed yet. He never interfered in his son's drug case, but the younger Remulla got a clean bill of legal health, while former senator and DOJ secretary Leila de Lima languished in detention even after two of her three cases were already dismissed. She’s denied bail while prisoners allegedly go out in the dark of night. What is happening to our justice system, general?

When it comes to choosing people to help him achieve his dream of following the footsteps of his father, BBM has a lot to learn. His son, congressman and senior deputy majority leader Sandro Marcos should start learning now before running for vice president in 2028.