MASADA: 'Only divine intervention' can resolve the fate of FPRRD

The convenor of the reactivated Mayor Sara Duterte Alliance (MASADA) declared on Wednesday, 12 March, that only “divine intervention” can resolve the fate of former president Rodrigo Duterte after his arrest and transfer to The Hague, Netherlands, to face trial for alleged crimes against humanity.

“No amount of indignation rallies and protests can resolve the fate of Tatay Digong; only divine intervention can change the course of the political landscape in the country,” Benito Ranque told the DAILY TRIBUNE hours after the plane took off from Villamor Air Base.

He said the silence of US President Donald Trump on the ICC issue means that FPRRD is now on his own and must face the legal battle before an international tribunal.

“God bless the Philippines,” he said.

Ranque earlier welcomed Vice President Sara Duterte's hint at joining the presidential race in the 2028 elections, a political plan that the group had been advocating during the 2022 presidential elections.

Benito Ranque was reacting to a brief appearance at a thanksgiving event in Hong Kong, where the Vice President playfully teased a possible bid for the 2028 presidential elections.

“I am thankful that from 2016 until 2025, you are still here… And in the next election in 2028 — just kidding,” she said in Filipino, sparking immediate speculation about her future political plans.

Ranque said the defunct MASADA was originally called the Mayor Sara Duterte Alliance, which initiated the “Run Sara Run” campaign for president before the 2022 election. In fact, he said the group organized a caravan from Davao City to Pasay City in Manila to urge then-Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte to run for president in the last election.

Former Davao City mayor, now Vice President Sara Duterte, decided to run for vice president alongside then-former senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos. During a meeting in Cebu City in November 2021, Marcos assured her that the Marcos-Duterte alliance would continue to pursue the economic gains during the presidency of her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte.

“Sara had already filed for re-election as mayor in Davao City when she was convinced that the Marcos-Duterte alliance would unify the country. That’s when the Uniteam and the Marcos Alliance were born,” he said.

MASADA was then renamed Marcos-Sara Duterte Alliance (MASADA) when Sara finally agreed to be the running mate of BBM.

Ranque said the defunct Marcos-Sara Duterte Alliance (MASADA) has now regrouped to urge Vice President Sara Duterte to run for president in the 2028 election, which the group believes could be her stepping stone as the next Golda Meir of the Philippines because of her Jewish bloodline, organizers announced on Friday.

“No more Marcos alliance; MASADA is back in action in its original form to carry out a nationwide movement seeking support to get a nod from Inday Sara to run in the 2028 elections. We foresee the rise of Inday Sara as the 'Golda Meir' of the Philippines if she becomes the next president of the country,” Ranque said.

He said MASADA, which refers to an ancient Jewish fortress that defied the Roman invasion, will be adopting what they call the “Israeli strategy” once Inday Sara decides to join the next presidential race.

Ranque said that with her Jewish ancestry and strong political will, the Vice President has the makings to become the Golda Meir of the Philippines.

The grandfather of Sara, the father of her mother Elizabeth Zimmerman, was a German Jew who obtained a visa to the Philippines along with approximately 1,300 European Jews before World War II.

“The Jewish ancestry of Inday Sara and her strong-willed governance in Davao City will make her the 'Golda Meir of the Philippines,'” he said.

The late Golda Meir was an Israeli politician who helped found the Israeli state and later served as its fourth female prime minister. She was dubbed the “Iron Lady of the Jewish state” during her time.

MASADA, the acronym of their movement, refers to the ancient Israeli fortress that defied the mighty Roman invaders. The defenders of Masada chose to commit suicide rather than be defeated by the Romans, taking away victory from the invading forces.