By PBBM and Lagdameo
THE performance assessment that Malacañang is doing on the President’s appointees is frustratingly slow, but albeit really painstaking and thorough. Almost two months into the process, there are still plenty of officials whose government conduct have yet to be graded.
One of these is SAP Anton Lagdameo, who disappointingly but expectedly failed the May 12, 2025 midterm political test. The administration lost heavily in Anton’s bailiwick, Mindanao, despite the cascade of political machineries and cash support that was provided to him by Malacañang.
Disappointingly, because the Palace tenant and his allies gave Anton the freehand to manage and run the administration’s campaign in the south on the assurance that their “friend” would deliver the much-needed and anticipated victory that would ensure President Bongbong Marcos’ hold and influence in Mindanao. But lo and behold! The expected wins did not materialize. On the contrary, the losses were shockingly staggering!
Expected? Well, administration allies who have been skeptical of Anton’s loyalty and efficiency have foreseen that all his bravado of delivering victories were all but empty promises. While he vowed to help political partners and supporters snatch wins, he schemingly but not-so-secretly worked to make sure that only those “loyal’ and “friendly” to him are proclaimed and take their oaths. You can ask South Cotabato Gov. Pax Mangudadatu, and he can talk for hours about how Anton worked as a “dual agent” during the last elections.
Gov. Pax has repeatedly said that Malacañang was walking on shaky grounds in the Mindanao region. Why? First, because it did not have high-impact projects in the south that would convince and lure voters to vote for its candidates. Government aids were not only sparse, but were only given to “select” people. And second, because its local alliances were weak, all thanks to Lagdameo who failed to build bridges between and among provincial, city and municipal leaders to strengthen the administration’s influence and hold to power.
Because of these two primary reasons, the people in Mindanao did not only get frustrated with the powerful leaders in mega Manila, they also got angry. And they vented their ire in the ballots last May 12 by voting for the administration’s rivals and political nemesis. It was the only way to call the attention of President Bongbong. It was the only way that Manila will look at them and acknowledge their importance. It was a gambit that, hopefully, would not go to waste.
The President has promised to do a bold reset of his administration just days after the May polls. He promised to kick out non-performers. He said this has to be done to prove to the Filipino people that he is serious about making the country a “Bagong Pilipinas.” He said the assessment and reset would be unforgiving, that he would not spare anyone, not even his appointee friends.
He said in a podcast: “Hindi naman ito sa pagkakaibigan o pagmamahal natin sa isa’t-isa, kung hindi serbisyo para sa tao.”
He also warned: “Kung hindi mo kami tutulungan, umalis ka na lang dito. Get out of the way. Gawin mo kung ano ang gusto mong gawin, pabayaan mo kaming mag-trabaho. Just get out of the way so I can do my job.”
In short, if you cannot deliver on your work, just quit. Get out. Leave the government to better hands.
The message was clear. Anton, being a “wise” man, should understand this. And heed his friend’s challenge.
Anton should not just courteously resign. He shoud irrevocably resign. It might be the only way to save his friendship with President Marcos.
