A legislator on Saturday appealed to critics of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. to observe the 100-day ‘honeymoon’ period customarily granted a new government administration.
Magsasaka party-list Rep. Argel Cabatbat, outgoing member of the House Committee on Good Government, noted that criticisms against the Marcos administration were being fired from inside his camp, saying that these have been mostly aimed at Executive Secretary Victor Rodriguez.
“The honeymoon period privilege should also be extended to Rodriguez because he is a trusted person of the President,” Cabatbat told reporters.
Cabatbat said that while Marcos was preparing to deliver his first State of the Nation Address, certain groups have launched smear and disinformation campaigns clearly aimed at Rodriguez.
Rodriguez’s detractors have gone as far as flooding the social media with fake news of his alleged resignation as the overall alter ego of the President.
Rodriguez denied that he had even offered to step down.
Cabatbat urged Marcos to act swiftly in taking the role of a consensus builder, adding that it has become incumbent upon the chief executive to talk to key leaders and supporters of his administration.
“For as long as the President is doing the right thing, I don’t think he will offend anyone,” Cabatbat said.
Meanwhile, Cabatbat expressed belief that Marcos was fully supportive and aware of the decisions being made by Rodriguez on his behalf.
Cabatbat said Rodriguez’s loyalty to the President cannot be questioned.
“The President must have the right reasons to trust Vic Rodriguez. I am hopeful that his untarnished reputation would continue while serving the President. He must always be on guard against lobbyists with no good intention for the farmers and the agriculture sector,” Cabatbat stressed.