Members of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s (FPRRD) family flew to the Netherlands to celebrate his 80th birthday with him while he is detained in the Dutch prison complex, Scheveningen, in The Hague. Their allies also called on supporters from all over the country and the world to gather in protest.

While there was still a considerable show of support, one could not help but notice the dwindling number of attendees — except of course in their “baluarte” of Davao where an estimated 100,000 filled the streets for Tatay Digong’s birthday. Something to ponder on for Davao City mayoralty candidate, erstwhile chairman of the Civil Service Commission, Atty. Karlo Nograles.

Let’s not forget, FPRRD is still in the running for mayor of Davao. Maybe Karlo Nograles should have filed for vice mayor instead of going against FPRRD. The next vice mayor will probably end up as acting mayor given FPRRD’s absence and incapacity to assume office should he win in May.

It’s now April, a little over five weeks before election day. The members of the distracted opposition senatorial slate appear to have gone their own ways. Vice President Sara Duterte, PDP-Laban stalwarts Senators Bong Go and Robin Padilla are otherwise occupied in The Hague.

And the trial of FPRRD is not until September. Really, all that can be done for now is to prepare a strong and solid defense for the former president. Meanwhile, the impeachment case still hangs over VP Sara like the sword of Damocles — and her best chance for an acquittal is to get more allies in the Senate.

Why isn’t she back yet?

With things looking bleak, could VP Sara also be considering seeking political asylum in the Netherlands given that the chances of her conviction are high? But that would mean not being able to come home to the Philippines and Davao. What about resigning to avoid a trial, conviction and disqualification?

It’s been floated that even if VP Sara resigns, “they” will insist on going to trial if only to get a conviction necessary for the accessory penalty of perpetual disqualification from holding public office to attach.

With what the administration pulled off during her father’s rendition, I am open to the possibility (more of a probability) that, despite the precedent set in the cases of former Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez and former Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista, an impeachment trial will still proceed to put the final nail on the coffin.

VP Sara does not seem like the kind who backs away from a fight, or looks for a graceful exit. Not that it matters because whether she resigns or seeks asylum, her political career is flatlining. The only difference is where she would be as we witness the eventual demise of what was once a promising political career. Abroad, free but unable to go home? Or here in the Philippines but on trial, then jailed.

Such is the hand they have been dealt, and the Dutertes will have to live with the consequences.

Unfortunately, what has been done cannot be undone. It bodes well for VP Sara to err on the side of caution, heed the wisdom, and go into damage control mode instead of resorting to her default self-destruct mode. Retreat, regroup, regain strength and conserve resources to keep hope alive. Survive until the time is right to fight back and strike again.