Metro Manila, Philippines – Malacañang belied criticisms that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. switched the posts of Vince Dizon and Giovanni “Banoy” Lopez was driven by political considerations or the president’s declining approval and trust ratings.
Acting Presidential Communications Secretary Lino Cayetano said the reshuffle, which reverts Dizon to the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and Lopez to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), was aimed at accelerating reforms in two agencies directly affecting people’s lives.
“Our president doesn’t look at daily numbers when it comes to approval rating,” Cayetano said during a Palace briefing on Monday, Oct. 26.
“It’s a direct response sa mga pangangailangan ng ating mga kababayan,” he added.
[Translation: It’s a direct response to the needs of our fellow Filipinos.]
The Palace also rejected suggestions that Dizon’s reassignment was connected to investigations on alleged irregularities in flood control projects, including those raised by Sen. Panfilo Lacson.
“The president doesn’t make decisions based on politics. The president makes decisions on what is best for the Filipino people,” Cayetano said.
Leadership approaches
Cayetano said the president believed the two departments required different leadership approaches as the administration seeks to deliver reforms within less than two years in its term.
Dizon, whom the Palace described as a reformer capable of introducing immediate changes, was tasked with improving daily commutes, shortening lines at the Land Transportation Office (LTO), eliminating fixers, and accelerating major mass transportation projects.
Lopez, a lawyer and certified public accountant, was assigned to the DPWH to institutionalize reforms introduced following the flood control corruption scandal.
“The president thinks Secretary Banoy, a systems builder, is the best person for the job,” Cayetano said.
At the DPWH, the Palace credited Dizon with introducing a transparency portal, accelerating stalled infrastructure projects, and promoting younger engineers as part of efforts to address longstanding problems in the agency.
Cayetano said Lopez would build on those changes by establishing lasting rules, processes, and accountability mechanisms.
The Palace said the reassignment did not mean Dizon had failed to perform at the DPWH.
Instead, Cayetano said the president believed Dizon’s experience would be better utilized in addressing urgent transportation problems.
No political motives
The reshuffle also prompted questions about whether the move was intended to address confirmation issues involving Cabinet officials before the Commission on Appointments.
Cayetano said he did not believe such considerations influenced the president’s decision.
He was also questioned about possible conflicts of interest, particularly Dizon’s previous working relationship with his brother, Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano.
“From where I stand and from all my experience interacting with the president, never ho siyang nagdesisyon base ho sa pulitika,” Cayetano said.
[Translation: From where I stand and based on my experience interacting with the president, he has never made decisions based on politics.]
The Palace maintained that Marcos’s decisions were guided by the reforms needed in each department rather than political relationships.
More Cabinet changes
Cayetano said he was unaware of more Cabinet changes, although he acknowledged that Marcos continues to evaluate the performance of government agencies.
The Palace also assured the public that the reshuffle would not disrupt budget deliberations or the implementation of government projects.
Cayetano said Dizon and Lopez were already coordinating for a smooth transition.
