Marcos Jr: 'I want to be respected but maybe fear is better'

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during the groundbreaking ceremony of the Terra Solar Project at a property in Nueva Ecija on November 21, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File

MANILA -- President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday said he wants to be respected, but admitted that being feared might be "better."

The President gave the statement in the first episode of his podcast, where he also admitted to giving several erring officials the leeway to resign from their posts instead of filing cases against them.

"Sa – sa nakaraang dalawang taon, three years, basta't may report kami na validated, tanggal 'yan. Hindi na namin ina-announce pero tanggal 'yan. Kadalasan. Marami na. Marami na talagang pero hindi na namin pinag-uusapan kasi gulo na naman eh," he said, without naming any official.

"Basta umalis ka na. Kung hindi kakasuhan ka namin. Ikukulong kita. Umalis ka na lang. Marami-marami na rin," he said.

When asked whether he wanted to be feared or respected, Marcos Jr said: "I want to be respected but maybe fear is better."

"Pero alam mo siguro dapat nga talaga maging mas mabagsik talaga dahil wala eh – eh kailangan talagang maging mas efficient ang ano – mas mabilis ang pagdating," he said.

"Kasama na siguro 'yan sa leksyon namin dito sa naging eleksyon nung nakaraan," he said.

In the same podcast, Marcos Jr. said that the results of the 2025 midterm elections — where only 5 administration-backed senatorial candidates won — showed that the public is dissatisfied with the government.

Marcos Jr. on 2025 election results: 'Filipinos are disappointed with gov't service'

There may be more high-ranking officials who will be booted from the administration following a performance review, the President said. 

"Kung talagang may nagkukulang o corrupt, eh kung talagang masyadong mabigat 'yung kanilang kasalanan, eh kasuhan na namin," he said.

"Tama na 'yung mga magagandang paliwanag with the good statistics at 'yung mga kung ano-anong mga drawing. Basta gawin na lang ninyo. I don't blame people. Hindi mo naman masisi ang tao," he said.

"That's the lesson we learned from this election. Don't explain it to us anymore. Just do it."

Among the Cabinet members who left the Marcos Jr. administration for various reasons are former Executive Secretary Vic Rodriguez, Information Technologies Sec. Ivan John Uy, former Transportation Sec. Jaime Bautista, former Trade Sec. Alfredo Pascual, and former Finance Sec. Benjamin Diokno.

The Presidential Communications Office has also seen a number of secretaries come and go including Trixie Angeles, Cheloy Garafil and Cesar Chavez.