Sen. Nancy Binay during one of the hearings in the Senate. Bibo Nueva España / Senate PRIB file photo
MANILA, Philippines — As the clock ticks down on President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s inaugural year in office, a senator proposed on Thursday that it’s high time for the nation’s leader to reveal his inner ferocity and bear his metaphorical fangs.
Though she is satisfied with the President’s performance, Senator Nancy Binay said she would still want to see more from Marcos, who does not get angry.
“Siguro if meron lang akong wish, kasi si Presidente parang mabait di ba? Parang hindi sya nagagalit, so baka kailangan going towards his second year baka dapat mas nagagalit,” Binay told reporters when asked to assess Marcos’ performance in his first year in office.
(Maybe my only wish for the President is because he seems kind, right? It seems like he doesn’t get angry, so maybe going toward his second year, it is more appropriate for him to get angry [sometimes].)
The senator could not help but compare Marcos to a former president, who she said was always angry. She did not name the former leader.
“I guess extreme yata yun coming from yung dating presidente na laging galit so baka kailangang may ganung… parang fear factor ng konti,” Binay said.
(I guess that’s extreme coming from the previous president who was always angry, so maybe there needs to be a bit of a fear factor.)
Binay said she also hoped the President could now complete his appointments in the Cabinet.
In the health sector for example, she underscored the need for someone to lead the agency in light of the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the country.
“So sana bago sya magsimula ng second year nya, kumpleto na yung gabinete nya,” said the senator.
(So hopefully, before he starts his second year, his Cabinet is already complete.)
This is not the first time a senator prodded the President to flex his muscles.
Even his own sister, Senator Imee Marcos, has asked him to get angry at corrupt government officials.
“Sana magalit na siya at tunay na sabihin na dadamputin na ‘yung mga kriminal at mga nangangalakal pa rin ng droga,” Imee Marcos said in July last year.
(I hope he gets angry and goes after criminals and those still selling drugs.)