The president's blitzkrieg of hiring and firing
No other president in Philippine history can beat President Duterte in decisiveness on the matter of hiring and firing public officials. He doesn't seem perturbed by adverse public opinion. He is bull-headed and uncompromising when he picks who should run the bureaucracy. And if he is quick in hiring, he is quicker in firing the corrupt, inept, ineffective, and those who travel more than 12 times in a row. Duterte brought in so many people from Davao and other parts of Mindanao to head Cabinet positions. Well, he said that for the longest time Luzon talents, and a few from the Visayas, monopolized Philippine governance. It is high time for Mindanao to take over.
We know his Executive Secretary is a true-blooded Davaoeño, along with the Finance Secretary who was his high school classmate. He also appointed Bebot Bello who, although is originally from Isabela, married a Davaoeña and has assimilated into the Davao circle. The Solicitor General and a number of high government officials are from Davao. The Agriculture Secretary is from Cotabato, same with the former Health Secretary who was bypassed by the "Commission on Disappointments." We recall his first appointee to DILG is also from Mindanao but fired him for alleged corruption involving the purchase of fire trucks. Of course, one of his favorites, Gen. Bato dela Rosa is from Davao.
He also named graduates of the San Beda College of Law, including his fellow fratmen in the Lex Talliones to many sensitive posts. And he did not give a damn to criticisms largely from UP and Ateneo alumni who think they monopolize wisdom in public administration. His Justice Secretary and his Transportation Secretary are from San Beda. His Communications Secretary was his classmate in law school, but there were rumors Duterte fired him for conflict of interest due to the latter's past connections with Globe Telecom.
One thing that characterizes his appointing patterns is that he recruited too many retired military officials to government posts. There are advantages and disadvantages. There are so many gripes and criticisms, as usual. But he doesn't care. His popularity rating has even reached the same level of excellence after hiring and firing. And about firing, there has been no other president in our history who took a very strong position against foreign junkets. He may be admired, criticized or even cursed by his enemies. But history will surely remember him for being the most decisive, most daring, and the one who does not give a damn about critics and detractors.
A leader is indeed one who is not afraid to bite the bullet.
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