Some DU30 men are leading him to ruin

“WE are the victors and we now rule this land. If the public disdains us for that, then let it be!”

That, dear readers, is not a farfetched boast. It is already happening to some personalities identified with the administration.

They are the walking examples of that English axiom, “To the victors belong the spoils.”

What they are doing is exactly the opposite of what President Duterte is preaching – humility and honesty as government officials.

It appears that the euphoria of winning in last year’s polls may have gone to the head of a few former campaign advisers of DU30. They are now not only basking in public attention, they are also bragging of their present and would-be positions in government, while others are abusing the resources of their new appointments.

If the President is always batting for public approval of his programs of government, some minions are exuding an obnoxious aura. They are the “real de-stabilizers” of this administration.

Sandra Cam, who became a household name in the mid-2000s, was an eye-catching volunteer witness who testified in the House investigation on the illegal numbers game. Probers learned much from her on the “jueteng” operations in the country.

Then came election 2016. She ran for senator under the Duterte slate but dismally lost.

Cesar Montano is a multi-awarded movie actor. He ran and lost when he sought the gubernatorial seat of his province of Bohol in 2013. He is no stranger to imbroglio issues in the celluloid industry.

Rogelio Pacquiao, incumbent Sarangani representative and younger brother of Senator Manny, is subject of a disqualification case for allegedly failing to meet the one-year residency requirement to run as congressman.

Last week, Masbateña Sandra Cam must have come too early at the NAIA-3 for her flight to Bicol that she decided to while the time away, where else but at the exclusive VIP Lounge in the terminal building.

Asked by security personnel for her pass or an approved request to the lounge, she had nothing to show. Many of us are familiar with the face of the charming entrepreneur- Bicolana, but to the guards and even the manager of the terminal building she was an unknown.

Naturally, she was refused entry. And that was when she blew her top and berated airport personnel, some newspaper accounts said. She allegedly said they should start familiarizing themselves with her personality because by June (end of the election ban of losing candidates) she was going to be appointed a Cabinet member.

Of course, Sandra denied all the reports in subsequent media interviews. “They did not happen.”

The recent episode about Cesar Montano who is chief operating officer of the Tourism Promotions Board is unusual – employees of the agency denounced him in a formal letter sent to Malacañang.

They cited 24 grounds of their complaint contained in a seven-page document. The charges ranged from Montano’s allegedly entering into contracts involving millions of pesos with private entities.

Also mentioned was his appointing reportedly of consultants composed of relatives, stuntmen, messengers, actors whose job descriptions are already being done by permanent employees.

Montano defended his moves. He said the protest came after he discovered some anomalies in the TPB when he assumed office last January.

Meanwhile, the petition for annulment of the election of the Sarangani representative was filed by a constituent. She said Pacquiao filed his certificate of candidacy on October 16, 2015. But tendered his resignation as barangay chair in General Santos City on November 3, 2015.

So, you see, these personalities were assets of DU30 during the election campaign of 2016, but are now turning to be his liabilities in less than a year after.