By Ronald Gian Carlo Cardema

Vice President Sara, President BBM, SAP Anton, and Speaker Martin are my godparents. Sandro’s first time being a ninong is with our daughter SG. I do not criticize any of them, thinking that the current political friction is just temporary and that they will forever be our family friends.

I have been a Marcos Loyalist since UP ROTC Days. I was the Incoming ROTC Corps Commander of UP Diliman when we installed our UP Vanguard Fraternity Senior Brod President Ferdinand Marcos in our Hall of Fame. While the entire UP Community was rallying that day against that event, that was the first time I met Congressman Bongbong Marcos.

I was a Duterte-Marcos campaign leader in 2016, even though the tandem was Duterte-Cayetano.

From 2016-2022, I became close with Ninong Bong & NinangLiza because, as Head of NYC (National Youth Commission), I am always inviting Ninong Bong, who was out of government, as our NYC guest of honor and speaker every year, tulong ko nalang sa idol ko na hindi makaupo as VP nun and he is also the author of the NYC Law.

I go to their house in Forbes, watch movies, and have dinner with them. I attend their Christmas parties. I even rallied in front of the EDSA Shrine defending the Marcos burial in front of Jim Paredes and 2,000 anti-Marcos/anti-Duterte crowd.

In 2020, Duterte Youth Party-List Congresswoman Marie Cardema was the only Member of Congress attending their Christmas Party. In 2021, it was our kinakapatid Sandro’s first time to become a ninong with our daughter SG, and in 2022, Duterte Youth Party-List transferred half of our assistance program to Ilocos Norte just to help Sandro.

Last August 27, I saw on the TV that VP Sara was being questioned by so many congressmen, especially by the three leftist congressmen. Residing in Batasan Hills, I immediately went to Congress.

I entered the hall; I saw VP Sara being barraged by questions by the leftists. I approached her, proudly blessed my ninang, and stayed with her during the entire duration of the hearing.

After that, on August 29, I was replaced as NYC chairman even though I have a fixed term until January 17, 2025. I am protected by the NYC Law authored by then Congressman Bongbong Marcos; the provision in that law for the fixed term is very clear.

During those years when many politicians and the majority of congressmen were ostracizing them and siding with VP Leni, Rodrigo Duterte gave full military honors to his idol, Ferdinand Marcos. I, as head of NYC, always invited and showcased Ninong Bong. Never did I expect that he would also be the one to remove me from NYC.

If he told me to resign, I would immediately follow that guidance from my ninong out of respect. But I was just removed two days after I stood with VP Sara Duterte in Congress without any notice and in violation of the fixed-term provision of his own authored NYC Law.

After years of being a government official, successfully fighting the leftist youth recruitment in the country, the only government official debating and fighting with leftist congressmen, and was about to exit in 4 months.

I am proud that my exit was because I stood with Vice President Sara Duterte, especially before my opponents, the NPA-allied congressmen.