Loyalty check for admin PBBM in Mindanao

MALACAÑANG is keeping its eye on its allies in Mindanao, especially in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao, or BARMM, where the dwindling support for PBBM has become a big headache for Palace political spinsters.

The dismal lack of support for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in this island can be credited to two major political developments.

First is the arrest of Mindanao’s favorite son, Rodrigo Duterte, last March 11, which has caused a ruckus in this southern region, particularly in his hometown Davao City. People have gone on the streets to protest what they claimed was Malacañang’s betrayal of a Filipino citizen. The political noise created by Duterte’s children and his supporters have become loud , and there’s no sign this would stop soon.

Second is the change in the BARMM leadership, which shocked the autonomous region’s officials and residents. The lame excuse for the revamp was because former interim chief minister Ahod Ebrahim was preparing for the October BARMM parliamentary polls.

There are reports that the leadership change was because the Palace was disappointed with the lack of significant improvements in the region despite the huge funding that it gets from the national government.

In these two major political developments, Mindanao regional leaders have remained eerily silent. They have become tight-lipped on defending the Palace actions. No sound bytes. No video messages. No ground activities, either covert or public. Just silence. And that’s something worrisome for Malacañang.

Amid this deafening silence, one question comes to mind: Where is Special Assistant to the President Anton Lagdameo, who is Mindanao’s caretaker? What is he doing? Or, the better question could be, why is he not doing anything to make sure that these officials in Mindanao continue to have the back of PBBM? Why has he gone silent too?

As someone who is know to be very vocal and loud in his support for the present Malacañang occupant, Lagdameo’s silence has raised skepticism among administration leaders.

Can Lagdameo’s lack of vocal support be related to rumors circulating in Davao that he has forged a quiet alliance with the opposition in preparation for 2028? SAP’s brother has been seen endorsing opposition programs during a cash distribution event in Davao del Norte.

Oops. How did that exactly happen? Don’t tell me that SAP Lagdameo did not know what his brother was doing. That will be hard to believe.

In dark contrast to the silence of Lagdameo and Mindanao leaders, the alarm bells in the Palace are ringing loudly. It will not come as a surprise if another revamp announcement is made by Press Officer Claire Castro in the coming weeks. Or maybe even days.

So, SAP Lagdameo is obviously in a fix. Which is more valuable? Friendship or personal politics?