“What can be asserted without evidence can be dismissed without evidence.” –Christopher Hitchens

If he were not a “promdi,” or from the province, Ismael ‘Mike’ Sueno would have survived the power struggle at the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), however, since he did not have the stature of Alfredo Lim, Mar Roxas, or Gibo Teodoro; Sueno, the former governor of Cotabato, had to go.
It is the president’s prerogative to sack any cabinet official for a “loss of trust and confidence.” We cannot blame President Rodrigo Duterte – no ifs, no buts. Even without solid evidence of corruption, cabinet officials can be terminated at any time.
They do not have the security of tenure and serve at the pleasure of the president. There should be no “Holy Cows” in the cabinet and the mere “whiff” of corruption means you have to go, as the president has emphasized several time.
While are not privy to the spat between Sueno and the three undersecretaries, John Castriciones at operations, Jesus Hinlo at public safety, and Emilie Padilla at legislative liaison and special concerns; we are aware the DILG has been labeled among the “shark-infested” government offices.

Concerns
Aside from dealing with the concerns of mayors, governors, and the Philippine National Police (PNP), the DILG boss has to tackle complicated in-house issues, which explains the turbulent relationship Sueno had with his subordinates, who were nominated to their positions by somebody else.
Since they are usually engaged in field work and have direct access to local officials, many DILG undersecretaries are in direct with their boss, in terms of accomplishments and attention from the president. In the way some of them have their own agenda and interests, they can be emboldened to display defiance and engage in a power play with the secretary.
In terms of numbers, they can outmuscle the secretary, especially if they believe the latter does not have the savvy, depth, charisma, or the fire that Lim, Roxas, and Teodoro (who must have smelled the awaiting disaster and why he declined the offer for the post).

Charges
The charges being hurled at Sueno are shallow, to say the least. The following are all allegations and may or may not be true.

• “There is a new hotel in Marbel, South Cotabato, which is suspectedly owned by Sec. Sueno, although he alleges the property belongs to his brother. His farm in South Cotabato, which used to have only one nipa hut prior to his becoming a secretary, now features several expensive structures” – Sueno insists the property is really owned by his brother.
• Sueno purchased several trucks for his personal rice business and his grandson, a police official identified only as “Senior Supt. Sintin,” who reportedly had a position during the time of President Benigo S. Aquino III, is known to be the DILG chief’s collector for many illegal gambling activities.
• “Sueno pursued the payment for Rossenbauer fire trucks, despite the fact there is a pending case before the Supreme Court. Worse, he and his family personally went to Austria and made side trips to other countries in order to pursue a second delivery of 76 fire trucks, which cost, more or less, P20 million, compared to a fire truck that can be purchased for, more or less, P7 million,” the letter read. Sueno clarified the purchase was a government-to-government transaction conducted during the previous administration. “It was 76 percent grant and 24 percent loan, it was an ODA (overseas development assistance),” he said.
• Sueno tried to influence Task Force Agila, the team investigating the list of narco-mayors, in order to clear the name of a mayor from Misamis Occidental. Sueno said the task force has its own set of officials and he was not able to interfere in their operations.

Trip
• Sueno authorized a mayor’s participation in a Washington trip regarding illegal drugs, when the said mayor was included on the president’s narco-politicians list. “The delegation to Washington DC was prepared by (the) local government academy and I was not even part of the trip,” Sueno said.
• “He is inefficient and incapable of the position he occupies. We hope and pray, if there is a new secretary to be appointed, they would investigate the aforementioned incidents.”
• Sueno is using his powers at the DILG to force the three undersecretaries to resign, under the “mistaken belief” they are behind his ouster. He initiated actions to stop the undersecretaries in their limited functions, as well as investigations on them, based on trumped-up charges – meant to destroy their credibility and preempt his expulsion.
• The undersecretaries tried to understand Sueno but, as months passed, the secretary became more interested in pursuing personal interests.

Loyalty
• Sueno spelled out his policy as “loyalty should be to me and not the president.”
• Sueno maintained and strengthened powers to DILG Undersecretary Austere Panadero and Assistant Secretary Esther Aldana – well-known supporters and loyalists to former DILG chief Manuel Roxas II.
• Sueno revised the delegation of authority so much that all signing authorities are controlled by “yellow protégés” of Roxas. The head executive assistant, not even a presidential appointee, has more power than any of the three undersecretaries.
• Sueno refused to investigate actions by Roxas, allegedly tainted with corruption.
• Sueno’s wife was likewise the one in charge of many contracts and other transactions.
Sueno has denied all accusations in a letter and has issued clarifications./WDJ