FORMER executive secretary Victor Rodriguez yesterday shrugged off his expulsion from the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP), the political party of President Marcos Jr., which he said was an attempt to get back at him for the failure of some of their party members to secure key positions in the administration.
Rodriguez said he does not consider his removal as PFP executive vice president and expulsion from the party as a loss.
He, however, lamented that he was not informed by the party that he was being removed from his post as executive vice president and that he was later expelled. He said the party chose to inform the media about it instead.
He also felt that it was unfortunate that the PFP disclosed what was supposedly an internal matter to the media which was akin to “washing your dirty linens in public.”
He also said that the incident was “not helping the President.”
“It’s an internal matter that should have been resolved internally. Kaya lang, eh ginamit nila iyong naging desisyon nila at instead na ako ang bigyan ng kopya, binigyan ang media. Anong layunin? Hiyain lamang ako (It’s an internal matter that should have been resolved internally. They instead used the decision and gave its copy to the media instead of me. For what purpose? Just to humiliate me),” Rodriguez said.
Rodiguez said some party members want to get back at him after his refusal to give them government leadership positions, some even due to their lack of qualifications.
He said the appointing power is with the President and not him. He said his job then as executive secretary was to sign the transmittal letter to the appointee, not to make the appointment.
He said some members wanted to lead or hold key positions in agencies such as the Commission on Elections, the Commission on Audit, and the Civil Service Commission.
“Kaya sinasabi nila na disloyal ako. Okay lang naman sa akin iyon. I’m happy being disloyal. I’d rather be faithful and loyal… to the 31.6 million Filipinos who voted for President Bongbong Marcos rather than pagbigyan ang kapritso ng isang partido o ng iilang mga opisyal nito (That’s why they say I was disloyal. That’s okay with me… I’d rather be faithful and loyal… to the 31.6 million Filipinos who voted for President Bongbong Marcos rather than allow the caprice of a party or some of its officials.),” he said.
Rodriquez said he will not take the issue sitting down as this has an adverse effect on his honor.
Asked about his relationship with the President, he said it remains good.
The PFP said Rodriguez was expelled from the party for his “incompetence as a public servant, conduct inimical to the interests of the party, abuse and breach of trust and confidence reposed on him by the President and the party, abandonment and disloyalty.”
It added that the party chairman, Marcos, took no part in the expulsion but “offered no objection” when he was informed of it.
