The opportunists

“While GMA was Monday’s superstar, however, it was said Presidential daughter Sarah Duterte directed the who affair—a sophomoric act that has put her father’s political strength off the balance.

What could rival the raucousness of Hitler’s beer hall putsch was that open power grab by Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Monday.

The Batasang Pambansa was Gloria’s Munich pub, where what was planned in Lubao, Pampanga on her birthday on April 5 was manifested with an open defiance to and total disrespect of President Duterte’s State of the Nation Address on the pretext of support by what was clearly a new amalgamation of former rivals and enemies now united for various causes. None of them for Duterte.

If there is to be learned from Gloria other than her mastery of plunder, these are her command to grab power (not once, but twice, now thrice) and her proficiency to steal attention (not just attention, mind you!) from others.

One-hundred and eighty-four members of the House of Representatives, elected to their posts cleanly or otherwise, helped her with that for whatever promises they have received from Gloria and her enablers.

But they have clearly stepped on the authority of the 16 million who have thrown in their voices for what they believe would spark change.

Gloria upstaged Duterte on what was supposed to be his day. He was to forge peace with the Moros through a new law. But it was thrown off the concord’s track by Gloria’s ambition and design to consolidate power, just as Duterte was trying to convince the people of its devolution through his federal pitch.

But Gloria, left with just months before those who supported her House coup of Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, will soon see her gang momentarily consolidated. Them with different colors—her former friends, then enemies from the Liberal Party; several members of the progressive bloc; the fiercest anti-Duterte lawmakers and, surprisingly, PDP members whom Alvarez once trusted. They could not be united for long, that we can expect as what Gloria did would change the political patterns and hues when Duterte enters the last half of his term.

The real power of Duterte will be tested by the results of the 2019 mid-term polls. Gloria’s entry into the leadership fray just gave her and her Lakas Party the power the opposition had lost amid the Duterte rampage. Gloria as Speaker, no matter how hard she professes support to Duterte, will weaken the President. That is to the chagrin of the 16 million who voted for him.

While GMA was Monday’s superstar, however, it was said presidential daughter Sarah Duterte directed the affair—a sophomoric act that put her father’s political strength off the balance.

Without Alvarez, who was Duterte’s enabler at the House, and after losing Koko Pimentel, another PDP stalwart who lost the Senate presidency recently, the President now has wobbly legs to stand on in his legislative agenda.

Gloria could not be trusted as Speaker of that fragmented House.

Tito Sotto, though a loyal partymate, is perceived as unreliable as Senate President. And the PDP has to guard its ranks. Or it will lose all the opportunists it had taken in just two years before.

That, ladies and gentlemen, is how Philippine politics works—only the worst ones survive neck braces, wheelchairs and all.

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