Sara impeachment seals Marcos-Duterte alliance breakup

The impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte has officially sealed the breakup of the Marcos-Duterte alliance, which began during the 2016 presidential election, a former convenor of the Marcos-Sara Duterte Alliance (MASADA) declared on Thursday.

Former Energy Undersecretary Benito Ranque, in an interview with the DAILY TRIBUNE, explained that MASADA, which was originally the Mayor Sara Duterte Alliance, was renamed the Marcos-Sara Duterte Alliance after she finally agreed to become the running mate of President Marcos in the 2022 election.

"We launched a nationwide campaign for the presidential candidacy of Davao City Mayor Sara, but later on, she decided to become the running mate of BBM. We set up at least 50 provincial and regional headquarters across the country to campaign for the Marcos-Duterte tandem in the presidential and vice-presidential elections in May 2022," Ranque said.

MASADA was reminiscent of the 2016 presidential and vice-presidential elections, when an informal alliance between supporters of President Duterte and former Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. was forged to ensure Duterte’s victory in the presidential race and Marcos’ success in the vice-presidential race.

Called Alyansa ni Digong at Bongbong (ALDUB), the alliance helped secure President Duterte's victory, but it failed to deliver Bongbong Marcos’ win, as he ran as an independent candidate for vice president.

Marcos launched a nationwide "Unity Caravan", traveling from Batac, Ilocos Norte, to Davao City, the political stronghold of then Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.

His political battle cry at the time was "National Unity so that the country can move toward progress and development."

As Bongbong Marcos waged his Unity Caravan, thousands of people lined the streets, holding faded portraits of the late President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., chanting "Marcos, Marcos pa rin."

In Midsayap, North Cotabato, thousands of residents played the martial law-era hymn "Bagong Lipunan." Many, mostly Ilocanos, openly wept as they reminisced about what they believed were the better days of the martial law years.

A similar scene unfolded as Marcos barnstormed key cities nationwide.

In Samar, locals expressed their gratitude to the late President Marcos Sr. for constructing the San Juanico Bridge, which links Samar to Leyte.

"The San Juanico Bridge is a living monument to Marcos," a city mayor told Bongbong Marcos during his 2016 campaign sorties.

The Marcos-Sara Duterte Alliance (MASADA) established at least 50 provincial and regional headquarters across the country to campaign for the Marcos-Duterte tandem in the 2022 elections.

Energy Undersecretary Benito Ranque, MASADA’s national lead convenor, told the DAILY TRIBUNE that more MASADA headquarters would open the following month to ensure coverage in all regions of the country.

"Our aim is to cover all regions in the country," he said.