AS a progressive, I have had my share of eye-rolls and head-shakes watching the carousel of power. Yet, nothing quite matches the incredulity that washes over me when I consider the curious case of Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Antonio Lagdameo Jr. in the Marcos administration.

It is like watching a painfully slow-motion train wreck, except the train keeps chugging along, oblivious to the gaping hole it is leaving in its wake, particularly in Mindanao.

Frankly, it beggars belief. Here we are, just months past the 2025 midterm elections, and the political landscape, especially here in the south, is starker than ever. The President’s approval ratings in Mindanao have been, in the most diplomatic way to put it, less than stellar.

While national surveys like the recent Tangere poll might paint a rosier picture (a 61.8% satisfaction rating for the Office of the President, mind you), delve a little deeper, and the cracks show. Pulse Asia’s June 2024 survey, for instance, revealed a telling three-way split in Mindanao regarding the President’s performance: 38% approval, 34% indecision, and a not-insignificant 28% disapproval.

That is hardly a ringing endorsement for a region that prides itself on its distinct political identity and, dare I say, once formed the bedrock of a previous administration’s popularity.

Then came the midterms. Ah, the 2025 midterms. A supposed barometer of public sentiment, a referendum on the administration’s first half.

While a complete picture of nationwide Mindanao-specific results is still being digested by political analysts, the whispers and outright shouts from the ground tell a tale of struggle for the administration’s allies in key Mindanao battlegrounds.

Remember the fierce political tussle and the corruption allegations against Lagdameo by the powerful Mangudadatu clan, alleging billions siphoned from Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao funds?

This was not some backroom rumor; it was front-page news, with prominent figures like Suharto ‘Teng’ Mangudadatu directly accusing Lagdameo of meddling and misappropriation. The accusations were met with denials, of course, but the mud stuck. It always sticks.

One might assume, in a rational world, that a president, faced with lukewarm regional support and a Cabinet member embroiled in corruption allegations and political squabbles — especially in a strategically vital and historically volatile region like Mindanao — would make swift, decisive moves.

After all, what is the point of a performance review if it does not lead to, well, performance?

We have seen other Cabinet members, discreetly or not-so-discreetly, being “advised” to tender their resignations when their output proved dismal, or their political capital became a liability. The President himself, just a couple of months ago, hinted at a shake-up, talking about removing “underperforming and corrupt officials” to improve public service delivery.

The May 2025 post-election chatter even had the President asking Cabinet secretaries to resign after “poor midterm election results” for government-backed candidates.

One would think Lagdameo’s name would be at the very top of that list, hand-delivered with a polite but firm “thank you for your service, but… no.”

But here we are.

SAP Lagdameo remains, steadfast as a limpet on the hull of a ship, seemingly impervious to the storm of criticism and the rising tide of discontent. What gives? Is it a matter of utang na buot (debt of gratitude) for campaign contributions that reportedly exceeded a quarter of a billion pesos?

Is it a stubborn refusal to admit a misstep in appointment? Or is it something more insidious, a testament to the resistance of privilege in our political landscape?

What are the “pros” of retaining Lagdameo?

From a purely cynical perspective, perhaps he serves as a loyal, unquestioning conduit to certain political blocs or business interests. He is, after all, a scion of the wealthy Floirendo clan, with deep roots in Southern Mindanao. But at what cost?

The “cons” are glaring, and they outweigh any perceived benefits like a fat man on a teeter-totter. Just think of the impact on the President’s credibility and Mindanao ratings.

How can the Marcos administration genuinely claim to be focused on “unity” and “economic transformation” for all Filipinos, especially those in the countryside, when its Special Assistant to the President is perceived as a non-performing asset, a political burden, and worse, a divisive figure in a region so critical to the nation's future?

The economic indicators in Mindanao, while some areas like Northern Mindanao show growth outpacing national averages (Rappler, June 2025, noting 6% growth in 2024), still grapple with persistent poverty, underemployment, and the glaring disparity between urban centers and remote communities.

The national promises of P20/kilo rice and single-digit poverty rates are still distant dreams for many. The image of a presidential aide allegedly diverting funds from the very people who need them most is a cruel irony that will not be forgotten come 2028.

Retaining Lagdameo, despite the persistent allegations and the undeniable political fallout in Mindanao, makes the President appear either tone-deaf to public sentiment, beholden to political debts, or worse, complicit. It sends a message that performance reviews are mere lip service, that integrity is negotiable, and that proximity to power trumps accountability.

This is not just about one man; it is about the integrity of an entire administration. If the President truly wants to recalibrate his priorities and show a “performance-driven approach,” as stated by the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), then the first logical step, the absolute minimum, would be to cut ties with those who are clearly weighing down the ship.

The “heavy baggage” metaphor has never been more apt.

Lagdameo is not just baggage; he is a non-performing asset, a political albatross, a lead balloon in a region where the administration desperately needs buoyancy.

Unless the Marcos administration wants to further cement its image as one that tolerates inefficiency, turns a blind eye to allegations of impropriety, and squanders political capital, then the choice is clear.

The time for pretense is over.

Mindanao deserves better. And frankly, even the President’s own political fortunes demand better.