Public office runs on mandate, not mood.
And diplomacy often looks warmer than politics wants it to be.

Commentator Tio Moreno weighed in on the criticism surrounding Cebu Governor Pam Baricuatro, arguing that her actions during the ASEAN Summit were appropriate, professional, and within the bounds of her office—not a political pivot.

Moreno acknowledged that Baricuatro’s alliance with Rodrigo Duterte played a role in her electoral support, noting she ranked first in 29 of Cebu’s 51 cities and municipalities. Still, he stressed that once elected, a governor’s mandate extends to all constituents, regardless of affiliation.

The key distinction, Moreno said, is simple but often blurred online: accommodation is not alliance. He pointed to past instances across the political spectrum—public courtesy extended without ideological surrender—as evidence that governance requires civility, not purity tests. Examples cited include cross-party courtesy calls and official engagements by national figures, including Sara Duterte.

In the context of the ASEAN Summit, Moreno emphasized that engaging domestic and foreign delegates is part of official duty, especially if Cebu aims to strengthen its position in the MICE sector (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions). Turning hospitality into a loyalty referendum, he warned, confuses optics with obligation.

The takeaway is not a defense of any camp—but a reminder: governance is not fan service. Nuance matters. Courtesy keeps doors open. And leadership, at times, requires disappointing purists to serve the whole.