KICKED OUT | Rodriguez expelled from party over complaints on questionable acts

November 22, 2022 , 01:07 PM

By Beatrice Puente

(November 22, 2022) – After his short-lived tenure in the government, the former executive secretary of President Bongbong Marcos Jr. was expelled from Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) over alleged violations of the principles of the political party, an official said on Tuesday.

Atty. Vic Rodriguez will be replaced by Anton Lagdameo, the special assistant to the president, as the new executive vice president of PFP.

“Binigyan namin siya ng dalawang notice (pero) hindi naman siya nasagot,” said PFP national secretary general Tom Lantion on News5’s Frontline sa Umaga. “Natanggap nila ‘yun kaya lang walang sagot kaya nagdesisyon ang directorate, ang (executive committee) na tuluyan nang magbigay ng desisyon (sa reklamo).”

In the ruling, Rodriguez was “found guilty of breach or loss of trust and confidence, abandonment, disloyalty, and acts inimical to the party” after his alleged role in the questionable appointment of some officials, including Christopher Pastrana to the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), among other issues.

The complainants said the selection of Pastrana showed a conflict of interest because he’s also the chairperson of Archipelago Philippines Ferries Corporation, which operates FastCat. His company reportedly owes P132 million to the Department of Transportation, which is the mother agency of the PPA.

It was alleged that the appointment can be linked to Rodriguez because his wife and the wife of the business partner of Pastrana are relatives.

PFP, which is chaired by Marcos, also noted that Rodriguez “had treated with extreme discrimination and blocked all applications for appointment that PFP members submitted to his office.”

“Rodriguez’s tenure was marked by chaos, confusion, disorder, intrigue, instability, nepotism, charges of appointments-for-sale, ’empire building’ and plotting against his perceived detractors,” added the document.

Rodriguez originally served as the spokesperson of Marcos during the campaign period. After the landslide win of his boss, Rodriguez was appointed as the executive secretary and was dubbed as the “Little President.”

In just his first few months, he got embroiled in the sugar importation fiasco. He stepped down last September, citing the need to be present for his family. He was supposed to be moved as presidential chief of staff but it did not push through.

PFP said the draft order on the creation of this new position proves that Rodriguez “attempted to clutch at straws” even at the last hour.

Lantion said Marcos took no part in the deliberations but he was informed about the decision and had no objection. Rodriguez has yet to issue a statement on his ouster.

Despite the issues, Lantion maintained that their political party remains strong.

“Solid ‘yan,” said Lantion. “Kami ay may tagubilin sa hanay ng Partido Federal ng Pilipinas na paigtingin, palakasin, at i-organize ang partido. Nais niya (Marcos) na sa anim na taon niyang panunungkulan, ito ay isa sa magiging dominant political party.”

(PM)

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