If there is one product in the Philippines that enjoys no less than President Rodrigo Duterte as its walking model, it is “Rolando Santos,” the shoe brand that carries the name of once little known Marikina shoemaker. President Duterte has been a self-confessed proud owner of several pairs of “Rolando Santos” leather boots especially made for him.
Made from the “shoe capital” of the Philippines, the Marikina branded shoes are fast gaining popularity with President Duterte personally endorsing it for quality and comfort. And he does it at every opportunity he gets to show it off to his audience here and abroad.
In his “Sa Totoo Lang” program aired over state-run PTV 4, President Duterte revealed he left “parking” at his closet several pairs of foreign-branded shoes gifted to him but remained unused up to now. Being used to simple living, he said he would instead raffle off these foreign-branded ones to his close-in escorts from the Presidential Security Group. He prefers his “Rolando Santos” shoes and boots.
However, lately, President Duterte promotes “Rolando Santos” in a different light as the boots he uses to kick out undesirable presidential appointees and other government officials who are into corruption, abuse of power, inaction and other offenses.
The summary dismissals by President Duterte of several government officials suspected to be involved in corruption had made news headlines. Whether or not these officials were given the proverbial “day in court” apparently does not matter to the public. It appears the action of the President showed a brand of firmness and decisiveness that may have awed and wowed a public wanting quick results over due process.
It seems it has been a practice among some of our Presidents to showcase their intolerance for mediocrity and corruption and to set an “example.” The growing list began with the exit of the man he himself named to his Cabinet – former Interior and Local Government Secretary Ismael Sueno.
More recently, he announced that he fired two executives of the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission, an attached agency under the Office of the President. A few days ago, he told his audience that he sacked an undersecretary of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
In fairness again to the President, he did not name in public the minor officials whom he summarily dismissed based on allegations that they may have been involved in questionable transactions or had been performing under par.
An angry President Duterte mentioned having fired another of his presidential appointees in the middle of his extemporaneous speech during an occasion with overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) as well as foreign and local labor recruiters last Thursday night at Sofitel Philippine Plaza in Manila. The Chief Executive was talking about abuses by immigration officials who make life difficult for returning OFWs when they come home for vacation or visit.
“Noon, sa immigration, matagal ang proseso kasi marami pang kinukutso-kutso ka, just to – left and right. I think, in my time, there is none. Kasi ‘pag may nag-report, p***** i** sisipain talaga kita,” the President said.
Then, from an apparent afterthought, the President quipped: “That’s why I fired a high government official today. I will not mention his name because I do not want to shame the family.”
But a little birdie told The Star it was DBM undersecretary Gertrudo de Leon who was seen being berated by the President at the Malacañang Golf grounds before they went to the OFW event later that night. DBM Secretary Benjamin Diokno confirmed to us a day after that it was De Leon, one of his six Undersecretaries.
According to the President, he had fired three members of his own staff much earlier over allegations of “influence peddling.” Thus, the list did not stop with De Leon.
These moves by the President may have shocked even his own allies. After all, the personalities he had fired were his own appointees and some of them included his very close friends. Others may have been recommended to him on the basis of political connections.
Sueno and some of the unnamed officials on the “fired” list are identified with the PDP-Laban. There are also talks that De Leon himself has ties with a senior Cabinet member close to the President having once worked for the law firm of that Cabinet member.
Fifteen months into office, President Duterte has shown he means what he says in his declared war against corruption in the bureaucracy. And some of these fired officials found to their dismay that their political ties did not save their necks.
Then the President may be set to make a genuine reform in his war against corruption. This is one campaign that would not be suspected of being nothing more than political persecution since the sacked officials are not his political nemeses and are actually allied with his group.
One of the officials in the “fired” list is rumored to be “plotting” not a comeback but a “vendetta” against certain erstwhile fellow government executives whom he felt may have “squealed” to the President regarding the transactions that led to his ouster.
This particular official has reportedly been overheard by former colleagues as saying he will make sure that those who “squealed” would themselves lose their hold on their posts. This official is said to be serious about his threat and has the necessary financial wherewithal for him to carry out a “vendetta.”
Those who are sympathetic to this official has reportedly discouraged him from carrying out the “plot” and counseled him to focus instead on rebuilding the reputation soiled by this unfortunate incident in his life. We give him the same advice. No amount of “vendetta” against those who denounce misdeeds of their peers before the President can stop him from his steadfast stand against corruption in government.
While he was Davao City Mayor, the President love to tell his audience, he literally kicked butts of erring government personnel. Now as President, he mused of doing the same, especially with his “Rolando Santos” boots on.