By Alex P. Vidal
“Sir, I am no sycophant or worshipper of power anywhere.” —Benjamin F. Wade
GOVERNORS not only from the Visayas but also from Luzon and Mindanao were expected to “support” President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. since he has been president for two years and four months now.
Whatever political differences between Mr. Marcos Jr. and the governors who threw their lot behind former Vice President Leni Robredo, were already considered “a thing of the past” after most of them abandoned Robredo’s political bandwagon and embraced Mr. Marcos Jr.’s Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP).
Almost all the past presidents—from the late Corazon Aquino until recently Rodrigo Duterte—have been given the same privilege and courtesy by the local chief executives from the opposite side of political fence in the name of national unity.
Thus, it shouldn’t be a question anymore that Mr. Marcos Jr. is enjoying the support of the majority if not all the governors in the Philippines—unless some of them have personal grudges with the president.
The act by the 16 governors from various regions in the Visayas of signing a manifesto “expressing support for President Marcos Jr. and his vision for national progress” on January 30 wasn’t only unnecessary, but it also betrayed their penchant for sycophancy.
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The signing was done during a unity lunch organized by Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia at the Cebu Provincial Capitol, which also gathered various local leaders from the Visayas region, including mayors, vice mayors, councilors, provincial board members, and representatives from the Provincial Association of Barangay Councils in Cebu.
Read the sycophants’ manifesto: “We, the duly elected governors of the Visayas region, representing our respective provinces and the millions of Filipinos who call the Visayas home, stand united in our unwavering support for the administration of President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr.“
It added: “Recognizing the remarkable progress the Marcos administration has achieved in advancing national development, driving economic recovery, and fostering regional growth, we wholeheartedly affirm our commitment to his leadership and vision for a Bagong Pilipinas.”
We find the adulation too superfluous since Mr. Marcos Jr. is not even under intense political pressure from powerful political forces and civil society to relinquish the presidency.
The president is not under threat of impeachment. He was never endangered of being ousted as he is ostensibly enjoying the support of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the majority of the Filipinos who elected him overwhelmingly.
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Lamentably, those who signed the document aside from the flatterer Garcia were Aklan Gov. Jose Enrique Miraflores, Guimaras Gov. JC Rahman Nava, Bohol Gov. Erico Aristotle Aumentado, Antique Gov. Rhodora Cadiao, Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. and Capiz Gov. Fredenil Castro.
Other political puppets included Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, Gov. Manuel L. Sagarbarria from Negros Occidental and Oriental, Biliran Gov. Gerard Roger Espina, Siquijor Gov. Jake Vincent Villa along with their fellows from Samar and Leyte Island including Gov. Sharee Ann Tan (Samar), Gov. Edwin Ongchuan (Northern Samar), Gov. Ben Evardone (Eastern Samar) Gov. Jericho Petilla (Leyte) and Gov. Damian Mercado (Southern Leyte).
Garcia, along with other regional leaders, previously pushed for the creation of the “One Visayas bloc” in August 2024.
What were they thinking? That they could extract favors from Malacanang while the son of the former dictator is lording over the Malacanang?
They must have been stricken with the mentality of political toadies.
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ON THE PILL? There is no evidence that oral contraceptives impair your fertility, no matter how long you take them. Source: Dr. Mary Jane Minkin, professor of Ob-gyne at Yale School of Medicine.
FOUR TRAITS MEN FIND IRRESISTIBLE. 1. Ignore him after five minutes 2. Be comfortable in your skin 3. Show off your playful side 4. Talk about what you really love (Cosmopolitan)
THE SKINNY ON SUGAR DRINKS. An average child consumes 224 calories each day from guzzling sugar-sweetened beverages like soda, sports drinks, and punches, reports a Columbia University study. So, let’s take inventory of the liquid calories lurking in the fridge, and swap in calorie-free alternatives.
(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two daily newspapers in Iloilo.—Ed)
