Do you agree that as in the case of Sec. Romulo, Cabinet men backing non-administration bets should be made to resign?

L.C. Fiel, Quezon City: No, they should make the decision to quit and not wait to be asked to resign, but can PGMA afford to fire Sec. Romulo, who is one of the most respected men in her Cabinet?

Ruel Bautista, Laguna: If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen, so they say. It would be going against our culture to bite the hand that feeds you.

Party affiliation is not a reason

Alexander Raquepo, Ilocos Sur: Sec. Romulo’s backing of a non-administration candidate doesn’t necessarily mean that he’s letting go of his commitment to work with the present administration for a better Philippines. Remember that loyalty should be to the programs, plans, and projects of government, and not to individuals.

Rose Leobrera, Manila: I don’t think that’s necessary, as long as the Cabinet official involved is the right man for the job. Sec. Romulo’s show of support for Noynoy is an indication that he is just being honest about what he believes in. Party affiliation should not be a factor.

William Gonzaga, Marikina City: The advice of PGMA’s minions for Sec. Romulo to resign from the Department of Foreign Affairs is inappropriate and misconceived. First, the campaign period has not yet started. Second, Sec. Romulo is loyal to the institution of the Presidency, whoever is occupying the position. It is his call if he will maintain such loyalty to PGMA after her term of office. Finally, considering his international stature and accomplishments, it will ultimately be the Republic’s loss if he will yield to political pressure from PGMA’s unthinking sycophants.

It’s unethical to serve two opposing parties

C.K. Yeo, Iloilo City: Sec. Romulo should resign. To quote from the great American writer Elbert Green Hubbard: “If you work for a man, in heaven’s name work for him. If you must vilify, condemn, and eternally disparage, resign your position, and when you are outside, damn to your heart’s content, but as long as you are part of the institution, do not condemn it. If you do that, you are loosening the tendrils that are holding you to that institution, and at the first high wind that comes along, you will be uprooted and blown away, and will probably never know the reason why.”

David Lazo Velasco, Marinduque: I agree. Cabinet officials are expected to toe the line of its political family, for it’s unethical to serve two opposing parties with different principles.

Ricardo Tolentino, Laoag City: Yes, for Cabinet men are members of the official family of the President. Supporting another candidate is tantamount to slapping her in the face.

Elpidio Que, Vigan: Of course, Cabinet men backing non-administration candidates like Sec. Romulo should be made to jump ship, lest they become round pegs in the square holes of the Cabinet. Why are these “morally straight” men still staying there in the first place? Things should be black and white for them. Ang mga namamangka sa dalawang ilog are hypocrites of a high order.

Rey Onate, Palayan City: Romulo must resign. Loyalty is a virtue that a person must practice in life. His belief runs counter to the belief of his boss and the organization or the Cabinet to which he belongs. He must resign out of delicadeza. Dito sa amin sa  Palayan ang tawag sa style niya ay laon. Namamangka sa dalawang ilog. Trust and confidence is given to a loyal person; ‘yung doble kara ay dapat itakwil.

Rey Ibalan, Antipolo City: Yes, Sec. Romulo, et al. should resign out of delicadeza to avoid being called namamangka sa dalawang ilog.  

Loi Castillo, Davao City:  Granting he is supporting a non-administration candidate, the good Secretary should resign from his post because he is no longer working with a common objective with his colleagues. If Sec. Romulo feels he has to support Noynoy, he should leave the PGMA Cabinet. Masyado siyang sigurista.

It’s the President’s call

Ruben Viray, Antipolo City: Members of the Cabinet should give due respect to Sec. Romulo’s personal comment in supporting Noynoy in his presidential bid. He has been true to his post. His integrity and loyalty to his superior is worthy of recognition. They should refrain from asking him to resign because it was the President who appointed him and only she has the authority to ask him to leave. His term is co-terminus with the President.

C.B. Manalastas, Manila: The matter of whether Cabinet men should quit or stay on for backing administration bets is up to the President who appointed them.

Robert Young Jr., San Juan: There is nothing improper about Foreign Sec. Romulo telling Palace people in private that he voted for Sen. Noynoy in the 2007 elections, that he has strong ties with the Aquinos, or even that he would vote for Noynoy in 2010, for as long as Sec. Romulo doesn’t campaign openly for him. It’s his personal choice. Among 10 other Cabinet members who were also Pres. Cory’s men before, there must be more supporting Noynoy. The President isn’t a candidate in 2010; it’s her call if she wants to fire anyone who doesn’t follow her personal choice.

Benjamin Nillo, Las Piñas City: Cabinet men are presidential appointees. They should remain loyal and must serve the interest of the President at all times.

Eufrocino Linsangan, Isabela: Sec. Romulo is serving the GMA administration. If he cannot support its candidate and would instead support Noynoy, it’s only proper for him to resign.

Resignation is the honorable thing to do

Renato Taylan, Ilocos Norte: If they feel that their seats are already too hot for them to occupy, resignation becomes an honorable decision.

Jesus Mendoza, Pangasinan: Cabinet men, whether backing non-administration or administration bets, should be made to resign because they should be non-partisan.

Mandy Rillon, Cabanatuan City: It’s just right, proper, and dignified for any Cabinet member to resign from his post if he is no longer supporting the President or her choices. They are serving at the pleasure of their leader and endorsing someone other than the President’s choice is tantamount to utter disrespect. Sec. Romulo carries the name of his honorable father and I wish he would keep it untarnished. He should realize he is receiving a salary in serving the President and he is eating the fruits of her labor in Malacañang. It is imperative for Sec. Romulo to tender his resignation.

Johann Lucas, Quezon City: Yes, leaving the Arroyo government is the honorable thing for Cabinet members who refuse to support the administration’s candidate next year. Cabinet members should be apolitical and silent on whom their presidential choices should be because they serve the whole nation.

Felix Ramento, Manila: The most honorable thing for Sec. Romulo to do now that he has declared his choice between Gibo and Noynoy is to leave the PGMA administration that has the former as its official candidate for the 2010 presidential elections. The same is true of other Cabinet men who are not convinced about Gibo’s chances. They should not wait for someone to tell them that they are no longer welcome in the group. Sa pulitika, ang mapag-suspetsahan lang ay napakasama na, ‘yun pa kayang tahasang mong aminin na sa kabila ka?

Col. Ben Paguirigan Jr., Ret., Zamboanga City: No, Sec. Romulo was only expressing his personal preference. Delicadeza,though, dictates that he should resign in due time.

Those doing a good job need not resign

Dante delos Reyes, Metro Manila: Sec. Romulo is doing his job well. He is competently and effectively working on the foreign policy of our government. His opinion on his preferred candidate should not be used against him. Look at Mar Roxas; he has served different presidents and he supported candidates outside of his President’s choice. There was no brouhaha calling for his ouster from the Cabinet. Let Sec. Romulo do his job.

Digoy Coro, Batangas: No, they should not be made to resign, especially those who are doing a good job in their departments. However, I think they’ll be sacked.

Elsa Mendoza, Quezon City: No, I don’t. Working with government is about governance. As long as these members of the Cabinet are performing faithfully in their departments, I see no reason why they should be made to resign if they are backing a non-administration bet. Having their own choice is a personal thing and it should not be taken against them. Palace minions must not blubber that crap about delicadeza they have a lot of issus with that word themselves. Let the administration start digging its own grave by firing Sec. Romulo, et al.

Lucas Banzon Madamba II, Laguna: Cabinet men have the right to go for non-administration candidates. These men should not be made to resign if they are doing well in their jobs.

Rom Valdez, Metro Manila: Why ask them to resign when they have been delivering positive results in performing their given duties as government officials?

Ed Ledesma, Iloilo City: As long as he’s doing his job, and he is, Sec. Romulo should not be made to resign. Why should he resign for his own personal convictions? Just asking.

Maricel Maralit, Naga City: Do not pressure decent and honest officials like Sec. Bert Romulo to resign. We all have the freedom to choose whom we are going to support.

They should resign out of delicadeza

Ella Arenas, Pangasinan: Of course, out of delicadeza, they should resign. Anyway, we can’t prevent them from supporting other candidates because that’s their personal prerogative. Still, they should just make the necessary move.

Armando Tavera, Las Piñas City: Just for the sake of delicadeza, they should resign.

Louella Brown, Baguio City: Cabinet men backing non-administration bets should be made to resign for the sake of delicadeza. I salute these men for their truthfulness.

Oscar Sebastian Caiña, Cagayan de Oro City: He should resign out of delicadeza, because it’s as if he is already applying for a Cabinet post in case Noynoy wins the presidency.

Rowena Remiendo, Makati City: Definitely; that’s what we call delicadeza.

Dr. Dennis Acop, Baguio City: I disagree that Cabinet men backing non-administration bets should be made to resign. What has that got to do with good governance, which is the objective of the incumbent government? Everyone, including those in government, is free to choose his preferred candidates. This is constitutionally guaranteed. Second, pressuring a Cabinet member to resign simply because he prefers a non-administration bet is a manifestation of political immaturity on the part of Malacañang. However, I also believe that Sec. Romulo should voluntarily resign from the Cabinet out of delicadeza following his declaration of non-support for GMA’s candidate. Following through with selfless resolve augurs well for principled credibility and would inspire others to do the same that is, to act out their conscience.

Dennis Montealto, Mandaluyong City: He should resign. If he has other preferences and he doesn’t believe that the administration candidate is fit to become president, and yet he stays in government run by the administration party, aba eh, where’s his sense of delicadeza?

Rod Villar, Iriga City: For delicadeza, I think any incumbent government official backing non-administration bets should resign from their respective offices immediately, especially if the sentiment is expressed in public and sensationalized and maligned by the irresponsible media. It is utang na loob, the unique trait of a Filipino that keeps us immature politically, which affects the very foundation of our society. We idolize a person despite his or her shortcomings because of our utang na loob mentality that has brought this country where it is now, and yet we are howling to high heavens that we need change.

Ric Vergara, Calamba City: As an appointed official, for delicadeza, he should resign.

Ericson Paz, Laoag City: Cabinet officials who publicly declare their support for non-administration bets should resign out of delicadeza.

Luisito Vallo, Pangasinan: It would be a case of delicadeza on the part of the Cabinet men. While they could not be forced to resign, it’s highly inappropriate for them to stay in their posts if they have expressed support for a candidate from the opposition. They have every right to support whoever they think is the right candidate, but they have to yield their post if that candidate is opposed to the administration they are serving.

Only those running in 2010 should resign

Marl Ramirez, Metro Manila: Only those who are running for a position in the 2010 elections should resign; and those supporting non-administration candidates should continue serving the country. Personal choice is distinct from ambition.

Marilou Sy, Metro Manila: Nobody from GMA’s government has the right to invoke delicadeza as this word is most ignored by her and her ilk. They were obviously shaken up by Romulo’s statement and anticipate that more would follow suit and reveal their preferences for 2010. Romulo has done well as DFA head. Sure, he should resign, and if Malacañang’s parrots do not stop this delicadeza talk, he might. This will not look good for GMA as Romulo is her “alter ego” to the world and the world is watching and looking for clear signs of trouble, uncertainty, or lack of support for her and her anointed.

Better to keep mum about their choices

Ed Alawi, Davao City: I don’t agree. Cabinet members will just have to keep silent until election day and vote for whoever they want to. Sec. Romulo was just being honest.

Juan Deveraturda, Zambales: Cabinet secretaries supporting non-administration bets need not resign as the campaign period has not started yet. However, it is advisable and prudent for them to refrain in the meantime from openly and publicly expressing their support for any candidate, especially if the candidate does not belong to the administration party.

We live in a democracy, don’t we?

Justin Phillip Talbo, Ilocos Sur: No, they cannot force all their men to vote for what the administration dictates. After all, we live in a democratic country.

Lydia Reyes, Bataan: Why? We are in a democratic country. Is backing non-administration bets a crime? Martial law na ba?

Joe Nacilla, Las Piñas City: We hire a househelper to do the house chores, but does it mean she has no right to express her opinion and make suggestions on how to improve the system? Does it mean that, if her boss is still using wood or charcoal in cooking rice, she has no right to suggest, for easy, convenient, and faster results, the use of a rice cooker? Should she just close her mouth and resign? If this is what the idiots mean that Cabinet men backing non-administrative bets must resign, how can we improve our current system? This can be the reason why many government offices are still using dilapidated typewriters instead of computers!

Eddie Yap, Kabankalan City:   Cabinet men backing non-administration bets should not be made to resign if PGMA would like to show to the people that democracy is alive in her administration. There’s no doubt there are other better people on the other side of the fence and anybody has the right to choose them. But in fairness to the administration, these Cabinet men must be united in their choice to gain more strength and influence for their group.

Sahlee Reyes, Las Piñas City: How absurd and despicable this present administration can be. For one, there is no law prohibiting a Cabinet member to express support for an opposition candidate running for office. A respectable man of integrity like Sec. Romulo should be spared and not be bespattered by the arrogance of the pro-administration people. I pity Sec. Romulo; now he would be fair game.

Geeann Rivera, San Pablo City: No, bakit magre-resign? Kasalanan ba nila kung iba yung perspective nila? Everyone thinks differently; nobody can control your mind but yourself. If Sec. Romulo will support Noynoy Aquino, then the administration should just respect his decision.

Dino Monzon, Caloocan City: No, this country is supposed to be a democracy. We are allowed the freedom to choose whom to vote for. We should never be “yes men” and support just anyone.

Lorenzo Fernandez Jr., Cabanatuan City: It’s undemocratic and dictatorial to ask him to resign. He is not in any way under a mafia organization, is he? Therefore, he can exercise his freedom of choice. As long as he does his work in the government well, unlike those useless sycophants around the President, Sec. Romulo should not be bothered.

Cris Rivera, Rizal: I don’t know why we are in this kind of unreasonable political trend. It’s a blatant disregard of one’s freedom of choice; hence, it is unconstitutional.

Expect more of them to jump ship

Manuel Abejero, Pangasinan: That should be the case. GMA’s is a sinking ship. While the mistress is busy stashing her loot, the junior officers should abandon ship and save their lives.

Jim Veneracion, Naga City: It will be tantamount to sleeping with the enemy, thus to quit is imperative. With the ship of state sinking fast, expect others to jump ship.

The initiative must come from him

Norberto Robles, Taguig: Asking for Sec. Romulo’s head would be a bad move. It should be up to the Secretary to choose what road to take.

C.B. Fundales, Bulacan: No, the initiative must come from such Cabinet men to resign. There must be delicadeza when personal conviction is against realities in one’s job.

Views expressed in this section do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of The STAR. The STAR does not knowingly publish false information and may not be held liable for the views of readers exercising their right to free expression. The publication also reserves the right to edit contributions to this section as it sees fit.

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