Barely staying afloat

Listing precariously is the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. that took a direct hit from the two-day Rally for Transparency and Better Democracy led by the Iglesia ni Cristo at the Luneta.

The mass action that mobilized 650,000 protesters — a singular feat that is beyond the capability of the opportunist hypocrites who will assemble on 30 November — produced results in the removal of three Cabinet officials who were part of the Palace mafia: Lucas Bersamin, Amenah Pangandaman, and the chief of the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office, Undersecretary Adrian Bersamin.

Adrian is the grand nephew of the former Executive Secretary through his mother, Abra Vice Governor Anne Bersamin.

They resigned “out of delicadeza, according to Malacanang’s official line.

Most probably the three were asked to take the bullet for Marcos, who is becoming the center of the corruption mess, which his mouthpieces insist was the result of the President’s divulging flood control kickbacks.

The three officials were implicated by former Public Works and Highways Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo in the budget manipulation in connection with the flood control anomalies, in the Senate’s ongoing “Floodgate” hearing.

Former House Appropriations Committee chairperson Zaldy Co, who is in hiding abroad, also implicated Palace officials in connection with the alleged insertion of P100 billion in the national budget, reportedly under President Marcos’` order.

A crucial turning point was the revelations by Senator Imee Marcos, the President’s sister.

On the second day of the INC protest action, Imee told the cheering throng that the government had conjugal junkies at the top whose preoccupation was holding parties to give them their fix.

The addiction of the Marcos couple has led schemers and opportunists to take over the running of the government, orienting it towards satisfying their insatiable greed through the plunder of public funds.

The senator explained that the budgets under Marcos were manipulated, making them the most corrupt budgets ever because the President had lost touch with governance, and his allies in Congress were running the show.

The revelations of Imee validated the allegations made against her brother by former President Rodrigo Duterte, who was surrendered to the intrusive International Criminal Court (ICC), which needed a trophy amid its growing irrelevance and the controversies that its officials face.

Duterte, who was uncompromising in his campaign against narcotics, tried but failed to stop the succession by a regime led by a drug dependent.

The pressing question now is: what comes next, after Marcos has squandered the trust of Filipinos in his leadership?

Political pundits indicated that, since he is not sure of his fate or that of his family once he steps down, Marcos may resort to the ultimate option his father took on 21 September 1972.

Another probability is negotiating for safe passage and seeking exile abroad, as holding on to the presidency becomes untenable amid the eruption of outrage.

There are also suggestions of a military takeover of the government, which is a perilous proposition, as Filipinos who have adhered to democratic principles will not allow it.

Whatever happens, the path forward must adhere to the provisions of the Constitution, especially on succession, or risk repeating the nation’s past sufferings at the hands of a few hypocrites who arrogate to themselves the right to decide for all Filipinos.

The same breed of political leeches who exploited the 1986 People Power revolt to impose their will on the people, trampling the Constitution, are now circling Marcos, like hyenas poised to strike a weakened prey.