If there was any glimmer of hope for a reconciliation between President Bongbong Marcos and his sister, Senator Imee Marcos, the explosive speech by the latter on the second (and final) night Monday of what was supposed to be a three-day rally/vigil called by the Iglesia Ni Cristo at the Quirino Grandstand certainly quashed it.

There is now no doubt that the line has not only been drawn — but that line has been crossed and there is no going back.

The gravity and seriousness of Manang Imee’s act of confirming what many suspected or heard but never really knew the truth of not only puts into question the competency of the President to lead our country but also lands a significant blow to our already wavering standing in the international community.

Notably, former president Rodrigo Duterte had brazenly spoken about PBBM’s alleged bad habit publicly many times. There was even a leaked video that was eventually dismissed as a deep fake. But to actually hear it from Manang Imee’s own mouth, and the timing of it… The Palace has bigger problems than just the flood control scandal.

While the administration spin doctors are desperately trying to take control of the narrative to make the issue about the betrayal of family ties in an attempt to appeal to the deeply-rooted family values of the Filipino, it cannot be denied that Imee dealt a considerable blow to the administration by hitting it in its head and its heart — PBBM and the First Lady.

Like the Game of Thrones, no one could protect PBBM from his sibling. Think: Tyrion Lannister rooting for Daenerys Targaryen for the crown instead of his own sister, Cercei and nephew, Joffrey. We all know how the story ends, with neither Lannister or Targaryen taking the throne.

It seems the road to destruction has been paved. With neither the Marcos nor Duterte families surviving in its aftermath. Who will stand to gain the most from this path is another story.

It may seem that Manang Imee may have made a political and social pariah of herself. But the senator is a seasoned politician and she is neither acting nor thinking alone. Her speech and the timing of the revelations were thought-out, deliberate and calculated moves designed to elicit more controversy for the administration. To her mind, this is an act of self-sacrifice for the sake of the country. Their camp is determined to bring down PBBM, and install a new leader in the Vice President.

Fortunately for PBBM, there is a lot of resistance to VP Sara sitting as President given everything the public has seen her do or heard her say. Suffice it to say, the lack of an acceptable replacement is the only stumbling block to a second Marcos ouster from power. And there are many outside forces watching closely as any change in leadership could affect international interests and investments in the Philippines.

As the battle for the throne continues and the smoke and mirrors are played out to influence the public’s perception, we should not lose sight of what is at stake. What will happen to our country? With everyone more concerned with political survival (and others, their political revival), who is out there thinking of the people and the country?

Is there anyone in the Palace focusing on improving the plight of the ordinary Filipino and the sorry state our country has found itself in?