Political expert likens PBBM’s courtesy resignation call

A POLITICAL scientist from the academe sees President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s recent call for his Cabinet secretaries to resign as a strategy likened to a sport, where weak players are substituted to improve the team’s chances of success.

Lindsey Espino, the Political Science program head of the University of Mindanao (UM), says that just like in a basketball game, where underperforming players are often removed or changed to secure a higher chance of winning. 

Espino noted that Marcos Jr. is seeking to replace underperforming officials with competent and credible personalities to execute effective policies and services for the Filipino people, further emphasizing the move to avoid being labeled a “political lame duck” and to craft a positive leadership legacy.

“Just like in basketball, if the key players are not shooting well and not delivering nose-to-nose defense to protect and deliver the game plan, new players will substitute hoping the political and economic game plan will be properly executed,” he said, adding that the strategy is to realign his administration and address performance issues ahead of the final three years of Marcos’ term which is set to end by 2028.

“No more political accommodations, no more political patronage. The president needs competent and credible bureaucrats to craft policies and execute daring but effective services to the Filipino people, and the country in general, to once and for all, his leadership legacy will be cemented positively but subject for historical judgement by the present and the future generations,” the professor added.

Once dubbed as an “obese” political dynasty by several political analysts due to their broad control of power, the Marcos-Duterte alliance initially presented a united front following their 2022 electoral victory, calling for national unity. 

However, this alliance fractured over time, culminating in Duterte denouncing Marcos Jr.’s leadership as weak.

Tensions between the two camps intensified during the May 2025 midterm elections, when half of the 24-member Senate was contested. The Senate election results are pivotal, as the Senate serves as the trial body for Sara Duterte’s impeachment proceedings in July. 

In the recent election, the Dutertes’ candidates got an overwhelming result compared to the current administration’s heavily endorsed candidates. Five senatorial candidates aligned with FPRRD or Vice President Sara Duterte won a Senate seat; five seats also went to Marcos-endorsed candidates, while two liberal democrats linked to the late President Benigno Aquino III got the remaining seats. Both the Dutertes and the liberals have long opposed the Marcoses.

However, this also dealt another blow to Sara’s political standing, as most House seats were won by the Marcos and Romualdez allies. The analyst viewed this outcome as an early indicator for the 2028 presidential race, in which both camps may field their own candidates, further escalating tensions.

Speaking to reporters in Davao earlier this May, Duterte claimed that the opposition is targeting her because they anticipate she may run for president in 2028, with a formal announcement expected by 2026. She acknowledged that the political attacks against her are strategic, aimed at weakening her chances early on. 

Despite the allegations and legal cases filed against her, Duterte said she is prepared to face them head-on in a legal battle, even describing it as a “bloodbath” she is willing to confront.

In response to the Alyansa ng Bagong Pilipinas’ lackluster performance compared to the rival PDP-Laban in the May 12 elections, the 67-year-old president took a dramatic step on May 22 by requesting the courtesy resignation of all Cabinet secretaries. 

As of press time, according to Bersamin, 52 Cabinet members have already submitted their courtesy resignation following Marcos’ call.

In a government-issued statement, Marcos emphasized the urgency of the moment, saying: “This is not business as usual. The people have spoken and they expect results — not politics, not excuses. We hear them and we will act.”

The government clarified that this wave of resignations would allow the president to thoroughly assess each department’s performance and retain only those aligned with his revised priorities. “Those who have delivered and continue to deliver will be recognized. But we cannot afford to be complacent. The time for comfort zones is over,” Marcos added.

Despite the sweeping shake-up, the government assured that public services would remain uninterrupted. DEF