By Farah G. Decano

 

WITH the rift between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte becoming more and more apparent through their identified vloggers, their appearances of unity in recent events are less credible.

The suspected animosity between the two leaders that started circulating immediately after the May 2022 elections gained credence when in May 2023, VP Sara resigned from the ruling political party that supports the administration.  This was precipitated by the demotion of Congresswoman Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to a merely Deputy Speaker.   VP Sara commiserated with her political mentor who was suspected by the party to be planning a coup against the current speaker, Martin Romualdez.   Like her father, the younger Duterte also knows how to show fierce loyalty to those who have forged alliances with her.

Since the demotion of Cong. Arroyo, the hostilities have intensified. This may not be admitted but definitely there seems to be a strong and uncomfortable undercurrent. Some famous vloggers vilify the Marcoses with uniform themes underscoring a probably provided script.  One pro-Duterte vlogger has gone far as urging her listeners to literally unseat the younger Marcos – that is to bodily lift him out of Malacañang – for reasons of alleged rampant corruption in the agriculture department. There is also an online petition initiated at change.org that says, “Let Sara Lead,” which is reminiscent of former VP Leni Robredo’s “Let Leni Lead.”  This writer is waiting for Malacanang to unleash a very potent vlogger who can perhaps stand up against these vicious vloggers in defense of the Marcos administration – Secretary Larry Gadon.  He has not posted any vlog since last year.

Marcos Jr. knows that the Duterte forces are not a joke.  They were able destroy the chances of a former number one senator to return to politics. They were also able to earn the submission of many so-called brave ones in Congress within a few months.

What should Marcos Jr. do? How must he survive this escalating tsunami of attacks?

Recently, Marcos Jr. started taking the bitter pill for his political survival.  On August 21, the nation commemorated the death anniversary of Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr.   His untimely death at the tarmac of then Manila International Airport spurred the Filipino nation to rise against the older Ferdinand Marcos and depose him in a bloodless revolt.  Unlike last year when Malacañang stayed silent about the August 21 celebration, the younger Marcos Jr. this year, urged the Filipinos to unite and draw inspiration from the “indomitable spirit” of his father’s nemesis.  The son of the deposed dictator seems to be courting the support of the yellows and pinks who were a powerful force in the 2022 elections.

Even in the West Philippine Sea issue, Marcos Jr. appears to be keen in respecting the Arbitral ruling, a victory secured by the presidential son and namesake of the martyred senator. First world countries are now more outspoken about the recent Chinese aggression against the Philippine naval forces which were merely on a merely replenishment mission.

China gives the impression that it is not happy with Marcos Jr.  In seeming response to Marcos Jr.’s foreign policy, the giant political player in Asia responded by inviting VP Sara’s father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, and greeted him with what may be considered a welcome fitting for heads of states.  This may look like a manifestation of China’s support for Duterte, the present threat to the Marcos presidency.

What should the Yellows and Pinks do with the kind gesture of Marcos Jr.  towards them?  At the moment, they are at a quandary. Some say that they should ignore Marcos’ deliberate attempt to woe them.  Some say that they enter into alliance only with some conditions – pay the taxes and apologize for his father’s plunder of the nation.  One former senator predicted that the situation may get worse, and may push the yellow and pinks to confront the proverbial choice of which one, Marcos or Duterte, is the lesser evil.

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