Fondly referred to as the “Little Big President” by Bong Go, Medialdea is one of the few who can convince Duterte to ease up on certain policy decisions. It was Medialdea who got the President to allow the resumption of lotto operations after his blanket ban on PCSO-regulated gambling operations. It was Medialdea, too, who told Duterte he could not unilaterally abolish the National Food Authority Council, prompting him to move it under the Office of the President instead.