Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” F. Zubiri. Senate PRIB file photo
MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri on Wednesday advised President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to “crack the whip” or even replace underperforming Cabinet officials.
“Kung ako ang tatanungin ninyo, ang suggestion ko sa ating Pangulo [ay] to crack a whip with his Cabinet. Lalo na ‘yung mga poorly performing members of the Cabinet na imbes na tumulong ay lalong napeperwisyo ang iba,” Zubiri told reporters in a press briefing.
(If you’re going to ask me, my suggestion to the President is for him to crack a whip with his Cabinet, especially those who are poorly performing members of the Cabinet who burden others instead of helping.)
If the problem is inflation, Zubiri said Marcos should look at agencies that are supposed to track why there is overpricing.
“Bakit nagkakaroon ng overpricing? Bakit nagkakaroon ng hoarding? Bakit walang nahuhuling hoarders? Bakit wala pang pinapagalitan na price manipulators?” Zubiri stressed.
(Why is there overpricing? Why is there hoarding? Why have they yet to capture hoarders? Why haven’t they scolded price manipulators?)
READ: Bongbong Marcos, Sara Duterte’s approval ratings fall – Pulse Asia
According to the senator, these are the questions that Marcos should ask his Cabinet. If they are, indeed, underperforming, then they should be replaced, said Zubiri.
Meanwhile, citing Pulse Asia’s “Ulat ng Bayan” survey amid skyrocketing consumer prices across the country, Zubiri acknowledged that most of the officials under the Marcos administration have suffered from the decline in approval and trust ratings.
“All of our ratings have dropped. Thankfully, mine only declined by a single digit. I think I have the lowest drop among the leaders of different branches of the government, but what is important is to address this decline [since] we already know the voice of the people,” said Zubiri in a mix of English and Filipino.
He then reiterated his call for Marcos to “crack the whip” and possibly replace officials who have “no heart” for the Filipino people. Zubiri likewise stressed that this should “not extend until the Christmas season,” pointing out that this should immediately be acted upon.
READ: Marcos says lower approval ratings not surprising
“May mga ahensya dyan na sa tingin ko ay tanggalin na lang ang secretaries at palitan na [ng] mga bagong secretaries na talagang may puso para sa mga Pilipino,” he said.
(There are agencies there whose secretaries must be removed or replaced with new secretaries who really have a heart for Filipinos.)