SOMEONE ELSE’S WINDOWS: The sound of Sara’s clock

MALAYBALAY CITY (MindaNews / 1 January) – In the year just past, Davao City became the epicenter of the political tremor that would shake the nation – or, at least, the Duterte camp – bringing into the open the cracks within the “UniTeam” and laying bare what remains of the strength and influence of the Dutertes, most notably, the patriarch, ex-President Rodrigo Duterte.

It was a dress rehearsal of the presidential election in 2028, which will likely see Vice President Sara Duterte and the President’s cousin, House Speaker Martin Romualdez, as the main characters in a political battle that promises to be more vicious than the one held in 2022.

Things started to heat up with the drama- and tension-filled police operation to arrest Kingdom of Jesus Christ founder Apollo Quiboloy, who is facing sexual abuse and other cases here and in the United States, at the group’s sprawling compound in Davao City. It took weeks for the police to catch the self-proclaimed “Son of God,” who gave up only because he was already cornered, not because he wanted to face the accusations against him in a court of law.

It wasn’t just a law enforcement matter. Yes, Quiboloy should be made to answer for his alleged crimes here and in a foreign land. But the doggedness of the police operation against him also proved one thing – he is, or was, vital to the Dutertes as the owner of their main propaganda arm, the SMNI. Well, you have lawyer Harry Roque, but wait, he has gone into hiding after being implicated in a human trafficking case linked to a POGO operation in Porac, Pampanga.

In Congress, the Vice President realized her bratty attitude was anything but helpful. It didn’t help either that she repeatedly dodged questions about the budget for her office as well as her confidential funds. Worse, the Commission on Audit publicized findings on the disbursements of those confidential funds, including the dozens of fictitious names as recipients.

The elder Duterte tried to salvage the[ir] situation by calling on the military to save the country from the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., a thinly veiled declaration that the armed forces should launch a coup. Such a move may not necessarily result in his daughter taking over the government, but it would save her from further questioning and being held accountable [for funds entrusted to her office].

Failing that, the Duterte camp tried to incite their supporters to mount a “People Power” at the Edsa Shrine, which is ironic for individuals who had always mocked and ignored the significance of such a symbol. The few who came disappeared even before people could notice their sparse number.

What did they expect? Protesting on the streets is not for trolls. Besides, they could no longer ask for warm bodies from the Left, which supported the former President, but which he tried to silence and eliminate through the NTF-ELCAC and trumped-up charges against its leaders.

For all his charisma courtesy of his unorthodox manner of speaking and doing things, ex-President Duterte is not somebody who can rally crowds for a protest action. He had tried it with the Hakbang ng Maisug, whose rallies in various parts of the country failed to draw the thousands he had imagined. In addition, the media didn’t even notice those events.

Now, how will the House of Representatives decide on the impeachment complaints filed against VP Sara? I have this gut feel that the House will reject them. Remember, it’s election season, the House members would not like to inconvenience the senators who are running for reelection. Besides, ignoring those complaints will make the President look like a magnanimous leader, somebody who is true to his word. Hasn’t he declared he is against the idea of impeaching the Vice President?

It’s not a checkmate scenario yet for VP Sara. But the board is getting smaller and the clock is ticking.

(MindaViews is the opinion section of MindaNews. H. Marcos C. Mordeno can be reached at boymords@mindanews.com.)