By Junex Doronio

MANILA — The die is cast, so to speak, when former Executive Secretary Vic Rodriguez filed on Tuesday (08 Oct 2024) his certificate of candidacy (COC) for senator before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) at the Manila Hotel Tent City.

Rodriguez, who only served three months as executive secretary of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., is now identified as an ally of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.

He previously served as Marcos Jr.’s campaign spokesperson.

Rodriguez was also the executive vice president and general campaign manager of Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) during the Marcos 2022 campaign.

Ironically, he was also booted out of the President’s party.

Ia/mnm

By Junex Doronio

MANILA — Saying that he was invited to attend a leaders’ forum in Davao City ahead of a prayer rally that will be held against the signature campaign to push for Charter change (Cha-Cha), former Executive Secretary Vic Rodriguez on Sunday aired his opposition against the people’s initiative (PI).

“I’m here as a Filipino exercising my right to speak freely and oppose any attempt to amend or revise the fundamental law through unconstitutional means and processes via a fake, despotic, tyrannical and graft ridden people’s initiative,” Rodriguez told GMA News Online.

To recall, in November last year the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) — the political vehicle of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. in the 2022 presidential elections — expelled Rodriguez due to alleged several appointments to government allegedly made through the intervention of former Executive Secretary.

Rodriguez, however, claimed that he had been expelled from PFP for not granting requests of their members to be appointed in key government posts.

PFP president Reynaldo Tamayo Jr. had denied Rodriguez’s statement and said the former Executive Secretary was making it all up.

“Hindi naman po appointing authority si Attorney Vic Rodriguez at alam naman lahat ng mga miyembro ‘yan, hindi siya nag-a-appoint,” Tamayo Jr. said.

According to GMA Regional TV One Mindanao report on Super Radyo dzBB, aside from Rodriguez among those who attended the “Hakbang ng Maisug” forum were former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, former Cabinet Secretary Leoncio “Jun” Evasco Jr.

“Maisug” is the Visayan Cebuano term for someone who is brave.

Controversial Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) hosts Lorraine Badoy and Jeffrey “Ka Eric” Celiz—-who were both detained and later on released from Batasang Pambansa for refusing to disclose who claimed that Speaker Martin Romualdez’ travel fund was at P1.8 billion—also graced the event.

(el Amigo/MNM)