'Pink slips'

Going into the fourth year of his six-year term of office, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. (PBBM) may find his administration having the distinction of the fastest turnover of Cabinet officials. In fact, three waves of Cabinet changes took place this year alone. Three of them bowed out from office and tendered their respective resignation letters all in one day.

- MARICHU A. VILLANUEVA

Last Monday, executive secretary Lucas Bersamin, Department of Budget and Management (DBM) secretary Amenah Pangandaman and Presidential Legislative Liaison Office (PLLO) head Adrian Bersamin submitted their individual resignation letters. The latest Cabinet resignations came after several days of a rumored shake-up in the official family of PBBM amid the flood control scandal.

As soon as their resignations were accepted by PBBM, Malacañang immediately announced the appointment of finance secretary Ralph Recto vice Bersamin while Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs (OSAPIEA) Secretary Frederick "Deck" Go succeeds Recto as new finance secretary. So it's another Cabinet musical chairs.

On the other hand, Undersecretary for budget preparation and execution Rolando Toledo was named officer-incharge of the DBM. Malacañang has yet to disclose the replacements for Go at the OSAPIEA and the younger Barsamin at the PLLO.

Is there a dearth of talent for Cabinet posts for PBBM to recruit t from? Recto becomes the third executive secretary for PBBM. First appointed was PBBM's former lawyer Vic Rodriguez as executive secretary. Barely three months into office, PBBM sacked Rodriguez on Sept. 7, 2022 after alleged questionable presidential appointees came to light. Retired Chief Justice Bersamin, a fellow Ilocano, became PBBM's "little president" until his name got linked to the flood control scandal.

Not far behind in the fast turnover of heads is the Presidential Communications Office (PCO). Currently, PCO is headed by Dave Gomez, my former buddy as Malacañang reporter for The STAR during the administration of the late president Fidel Ramos. Gomez had four predecessors in a span of less than four years.