‘Honeymoon period’ no more for Marcos, Duterte camps — Pimentel

By: Charie Abarca - 11 months ago

MANILA, Philippines — If there ever was a “honeymoon” period between the camps of the Marcoses and Dutertes, it no longer exists today, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III claimed.

Pimentel made this observation in a press briefing on Wednesday.

“Ako, ang personal opinion ko — ‘yung relationship ng dalawang camp sa tingin ko, if ever may honeymoon [period] man doon sa relationship, mukhang wala na talaga ngayon,” Pimentel told reporters.

(In my personal opinion, I think that the relationship between the two camps, if there was ever a honeymoon [period] in the relationship, it seems like it’s over now.)

According to the minority leader, the so-called camp of the Marcoses is supposedly being represented by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s first cousin, House of Representatives Speaker Martin Romualdez.

“Yung relationship ni Speaker at ni Vice President [Sara Duterte] obviously hindi okay,” Pimentel noted.

(The relationship between the Speaker and Vice President Sara Duterte is obviously not okay.)

Romualdez earlier downplayed allegations that he was behind “anti-Duterte” resolutions in the House of Representatives. This support was reportedly meant to “ease out” Vice President Duterte from an eventual presidential race.

Marcos admin’s grade: Incomplete

Apart from commenting on the relationship between the Marcoses and Dutertes, Pimentel was also asked by reporters to give his rating on the performance of the current administration.

Pimentel, however, refused to provide a specific grade for Marcos, opting to brand the President’s performance as incomplete.

“Bibigyan ko na lang siya ng komentaryo na acceptable sa kanya. [Sinabi niya] na incomplete siya noong first year — incomplete pa rin. Saan na ‘yung P20 per kilo na bigas? Yung 1 million housing units per year. Nakabuo na sila ng one complete year, nasaan na ‘yung 1 million? Baka nga 8 or 10,000 lang ngayon eh,” he said.

“Sa budget process, ang daming lumalabas doon na pangako sa mga Cabinet members who are the official family members of the President, alter ego niya. Pati sa electrification program natin ang layo layo sa mga sinasabing targets,” he stressed.

(I will just give him a comment that is acceptable to him. He said that his performance was incomplete in the first year — it’s still incomplete. Where is the P20 per kilo of rice? The 1 million housing units per year? They have already completed one year in office. Where are the 1 million housing units? Maybe it’s only 8 or 10,000 now. In the budget process, there are many promises from Cabinet members who are the official family members of the President, his alter ego. Even in our electrification program, we are far away from the said targets.)

Pimentel said incomplete projects get failing grades, but noting the need to be reasonable and fair, he opted to give an incomplete grade.

The senator then urged the administration to admit its shortcomings.

“Parang quality din ng isang leader ‘yun na sabihin na: Teka muna, it’s either i misspoke o siguro I was overly optimistic. Ayusin na. Sabihin na kung ano ang totoo and what are the [realistic] targets,” he emphasized.

(It’s also a quality of a leader to say: Wait, it’s either I misspoke or maybe I was overly optimistic. Fix it. Say what is true and what are the realistic targets.)