Critical appointments and serious disappointments

The job of the president entails making crucial appointments to critical offices, and others like the ombudsman, chief justice, the Cabinet, secretaries, undersecretaries, assistant secretaries and directors of such important agencies, like the BIR, Customs, the Bureau of Immigration, and, of course, members of the diplomatic corps, including ambassadors, consuls and other diplomats. In the short span of time that President Rodrigo Duterte has been in Malacañan, he has made many bold appointments, but a number of them turned out to be major disappointments. And the good thing about him is he is also quick to fire.

President Ferdinand Marcos had been accused of many evil things, ranging from kleptocracy or ravaging the nation’s coffer to human rights violations. None had been proven in court, or none that I know of. But one good thing about Marcos is that he knew how to choose the best and the brightest, such as Cesar Virata for Finance, Carlos P. Romulo for Foreign Affairs, Blas Ople for Labor, Roberto Ongpin, and, of course, the inimitable Estelito Mendoza, who, at one time was minister of justice, solicitor general, Governor of Pampanga and member of the Batasan Pambansa representing Pampanga. And such men like O.D. Corpuz in Education, Jimmy Laya, Bong Tanco, Jess Tanchanco, Salvador Escudero, and the oil and energy wizard Geronimo Velasco.

Nobody could beat Marcos in the choice of good men and women. President Cory failed. She chose as her vice president Doy Laurel only to fire him due to conflicts in matters of principles. GMA chose vice president Teofisto Guingona Jr. only to fire him based on colliding political ambitions. FVR was relatively successful in his choices, save a few errors. Erap limited his choices to men and women from Ateneo supplemented by his drinking buddies. And PNoy was fixated on his former Ateneo classmates and shooting buddies. President Digong’s choices are mostly San Beda graduates, members of his frat Lex Talliones, and close friends and classmates from Davao, and other Mindanao men and women.

President Duterte’s crucial decision to fire Wanda Tulfo-Teo was a difficult one because of the support of the famous Tulfo brothers, one of whom, Erwin, is rumored to aspire for the Senate. Removing close friends because of rumored corruption is not easy for other leaders, but President Rody is very much comfortable in telling his close friends “You’re fired.’’ Firing men and women who are close to him might have entailed some degree of pain and regret. But he does not show it. He appears to be unaffected by feelings or affections. He looks like a determined executioner who aims at and hits his targets in his long and lonely road towards integrity in government and excellence in governance and public administration.  To paraphrase Forrest Gump, leadership is like a box of chocolates. You never know what kind of men you have appointed. It’s because most appointees are covered by masks and various confusing embellishments. You just have to take a chance.