THE political groundswell in Mindanao has been impossible to ignore, and Malacañang’s recent actions suggest a new direction.
With President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. pulling back the curtain on a select group of contractors who cornered billions in flood control projects, the ‘Bagong Pilipinas’ agenda seems to be pivoting toward greater accountability.
This shift brings a crucial question to the fore: Is Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Antonio ‘Anton’ Lagdameo Jr., the administration’s point man for Mindanao, the right person to lead this new phase?
For months, the political landscape in Mindanao has been marked by open feuds and public spats. The conflict between Lagdameo and Sultan Kudarat Governor Datu Pax Ali Mangudadatu, a prominent figure in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, has been a source of public conversation.
Mangudadatu publicly alleged that Lagdameo was using “heavy-handed tactics” to coerce local officials into joining his political party. Lagdameo and his allies have denied this, but the exchange became part of a wider public perception that the administration's representatives were, at times, attempting to supplant rather than cooperate with local leaders.
Mayor Sebastian ‘Baste’ Duterte articulated a similar sentiment with his characteristic bluntness.
Duterte’s critique offered a powerful perspective on the situation. His rhetorical question — “Lagdameo is a fool. Do you think you can conquer them, when they were not even conquered by the Spanish?” — was more than a mere insult.
It was a potent reminder that Mindanao’s identity is, in part, forged in its history of resistance to external control. Duterte’s concern that Lagdameo and others were attempting to create a “monarchy” resonated with the region’s long-standing struggle for self-determination.
When a presidential assistant’s actions are perceived as a threat to local autonomy and historical identity, the administration’s ability to meet its objectives could be compromised.
This thread of political challenges is now intertwined with the government’s push for infrastructure transparency. The President’s recent move to name 15 contractors behind over P100 billion in flood control projects is a significant step.
While the President was careful not to accuse anyone of wrongdoing, the action signals a growing public and official concern about how government contracts are awarded and executed.
The creation of a public reporting website is an acknowledgment of widespread public mistrust and a move toward building greater confidence in government projects.
This mistrust is particularly acute in Mindanao, where projects like the long-delayed Mindanao railway and the Davao Public Transport Modernization Project have been a source of public frustration.
Mayor Duterte himself has been a vocal critic of the DPWH, citing “delayed and poorly coordinated road projects” in his city.
While former Barmm Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim had insisted that Lagdameo “has no hand in the implementation of projects” in the autonomous region, Lagdameo’s role as the President’s top man for the region places him at the center of the administration’s public image.
He has been documented attending signing ceremonies for major projects and has publicly pledged to “directly talk’ to the DPWH to fast-track infrastructure rehabilitation in the Davao region, placing him in close proximity to the very projects now under scrutiny.
The President’s recent actions signal a political “reset.” This is a moment to reconsider old-guard political loyalties that may not be serving the administration well.
A genuine reset requires a new strategy, a new face, and a clear break from past challenges. Lagdameo’s tenure in Mindanao has been publicly marked by political conflicts and a failure to build a cohesive alliance.
His presence has become a flashpoint for the very problems the President now appears to be addressing. To continue with him at the helm could be seen as signaling that the administration’s “new direction” is merely a reshuffling of old cards.
To truly honor the spirit of the ‘Bagong Pilipinas’ agenda and the public’s demand for accountability, the President may need to make a decisive move. He may need to replace Lagdameo with someone who can bridge political divides, not widen them.
He needs a representative in Mindanao who understands that effective leadership is about partnership and respect for a unique history.
The President’s revelations about questionable contractors are the first step; the next, and most crucial, step may be a clean break from the political strategies of the past.
The time for a new architect of the Mindanao agenda may be long overdue.
