My friend who works for one of the top politicos in the country today called the other day to say that he would be speaking with his boss to ramp the campaign of their candidate. While organized, the messaging is a bit out of focus. He agreed with my assessment and said he’ll be in touch shortly. This was on Friday.
Come Saturday, he was on the phone again. “Anong nangyari?” I replied “mas malapit ka sa kanan kamay ng dios. Mas alam mo.” “Hindi sir wala talaga. Grabe man information security nila di sila nakikipag-usap basta kanino.” Even I nearly fell off my chair watching the live coverage on Facebook unfold. By the time it was 5 p.m., Rodrigo Duterte was done throwing a monkey wrench in the candidacy of his daughter and his supposed ally, Bongbong Marcos.
On our TwitSpace yesterday afternoon, the opinions were varied. They were some who believed it was part of a larger strategy in Duterte’s head. For others, they still couldn’t believe the categorical statement of the President that he couldn’t and wouldn’t support Marcos. Others were aghast at the possibility that the President would run against his own daughter. Most of them made known their apprehension that the development would allow Leni Robredo to win the Presidency.
What we know for a fact is there is a faction which has been pushing for SBG as President. It’s hard to believe the yarn being spun by some pro-Administration pundits that the President is being controlled by a cordon sanitaire. Watching Byron Cristobal’s interview, there were no signs that the President wasn’t in full control of his faculties. Since that Saturday afternoon, the DDS and the Marcos Loyalists on social media have been fighting an acoustic battle. It’s made worse by the pundits exacerbating the issue by taking Daughterte’s side over her father. This splits the DDS another two ways.
Daughterte issued a statement yesterday morning. She was calm and collected. No way rattled by her father’s threat. The BBM camp has kept its silence. When unsure, best to keep your mouth shut. The less talk, the less mistake. They’re probably waiting until today to see what the President’s final decision would be.
Duterte’s moves have put all the pro-Administration power blocs on notice. No one has made a move after Saturday and no one has released a statement yesterday. The opposition is playing it coy by saying they expected all of this drama. No one believes they grew a brain overnight.
But as my friend said yesterday towards the end of our conversation “pahinga ko muna utak ko sir. Masakit ulo ko. Iba talaga to si Digong mag-isip. Maski si Boss matindi na sa mga ganyan tahimik din. Nag-iisip din siguro wala man siya statement na ni-release.”
The opposition would like to think that they have unsettled Duterte due to Pharmally and whatever is the usual brickbats Rappler has been concocting in an effort to demolish the administration. What’s ironic is the other day, Bikoy Advincula was arrested for the murder of three men in Albay. Was Fr. Bert Alejo aware that the dummy they picked for the Ang Totoong Narco-list series is really a cold-blooded murderer? The opposition has been silent on this development. They wouldn’t dare go near this with a ten foot pole.
Comments