Marcos vs. Sara: PH doesn’t deserve political tiff, says prof

Filipinos witnessed in the past few months the bitter feud between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte.

Just over two years ago, Marcos and Duterte teamed up under UniTeam, leading to their victories in the 2022 elections on a campaign slogan of national unity.

But their political alliance faced challenges over major differences such as Marcos' rejection of the bloody drug war started by Duterte's father, Rodrigo Duterte, during his term.

Then there were the congressional inquiries on VP Duterte's confidential fund use and the drug war deaths during the presidency of her father. These hearings were conducted for 10 to 12 hours a day, and the Vice President retaliated with just as visual and fearsome responses.

Duterte said she and Marcos were never friends, and told lawmakers "you can throw my ashes to the wind, but I will remain unbowed."

In a live press conference, she threatened to dig up the body of former president Ferdinand Marcos Sr. and throw it into the West Philippine Sea (WPS) if attacks against her did not stop.

She said she also imagined cutting off the president's head in her dreams.

But the climax came when Duterte cursed the President, his wife Liza, and Marcos' cousin Speaker Martin Romualdez, punctuating it with a “conditional revenge” statement that she already hired an assassin to kill them if she ended up dead. 

Marcos responded by saying he would not let any criminal attempts slide. 

Since then, three impeachment complaints against Duterte have been filed with the House of Representatives. In addition, Congress reduced more than half of the proposed P2 billion budget of Duterte’s office for 2025, leaving her with P733 million. 

"Ilabas na and popcorn (Bring out the popcorn)," some said in jest, while business groups issued a sober expectation that despite the "politically challenging times...we still have a regular business as usual situation."

With plot twists aplenty and the next elections coming in five months, will the rift be a continuing saga?  What will the Filipino people gain from it?

Edna Co, professor and former dean of the University of the Philippines' National College for Public Administration and Governance, said the feud between the country's top two leaders offers high-value entertainment at the expense of Filipinos who are hungry and poor amid the lack of healthcare, education and employment opportunities. 

“The Filipinos who go hungry, who do not have education, who need healthcare...ito inyong dapat ilagay sa sentro [ng usapan], hindi ‘yung sinong sikat at sinong magaling sumagot dahil naisahan niya ‘yung katapat niya,” she said. 

Co stressed that Filipinos "don't deserve this kind of political dynamics," adding the next elections should yield politicians who will genuinely work for the people's welfare.

You reap what you sow?

It has been six months since the UniTeam’s official breakup: Duterte resigned as Education Secretary. The time passed, however, did not necessarily turn DepEd’s fortunes for the better.

“Yes, [it was a good thing she left DepEd], kasi wala naman sa kanyang skill, talent, competency [sa] usapin ng basic education. Kaya nga, ‘pag tinignan natin iyong itinakbo ng DepEd, medyo slow-moving ‘yung progress. Sa aking palagay, napaka-major, napaka-basic na concern ng bayan, ang basic education. Napakahalaga [nito], and it really needs a full-time person [on the job],” Co said.

(Yes, it was a good thing she left DepEd because she has no skill, talent, or competence in matters of basic education. That's why when we look at how DepEd was running, the progress was quite slow. In my opinion, basic education is a very major and basic concern of the people. It's very important, and it really needs a full-time person on the job.) 

“To begin with, maganda sana kung iba ‘yung nahirang bilang secretary ng DepEd. So, when she resigned from DepEd, it may be really a blessing to give way to people who are more competent in the field,” she added. 

Co said Duterte’s resignation as DepEd chief led to the discovery of possible corruption practices in the agency.

But does the President share the blame in the scheme of things, given that he picked Duterte as runningmate and appointed her to the DepEd post?

Co said that Marcos’ decision to form a UniTeam with Duterte was a natural inclination to ensure victory and political leverage. It worked and they both won handily, but she said a person’s true nature will gradually reveal itself for better or for worse.

“I would have to choose someone else who can pull me up and bring me to the presidential seat. You have to take the risk to partner with her to assure a victory as far as presidential victory is concerned. But at the end of the day, when you both win, the issue of personalities, approach to the programs, the controversy around the program, this was the cause of them splitting up. And this is a point of no return,” she said.

“Hindi na pwede ibalik ‘yung dating friendship kasi ang tindi na nung threat to the person of the President, the First Lady, and the Speaker. That's too heavy to ignore. Kaya naging dalang dala ‘yung buong bayan natin sa controversy na ito,” she added.

(It’s no longer possible to bring back the old friendship because the threat to the person of the President, the First Lady, and the Speaker is so heavy. That's too heavy to ignore. That's why the whole country is so invested in this controversy.) 

Accountability or prosperity? 

Co said that pursuing an impeachment case against the Vice President and the government cooperating with the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the investigation of the drug war deaths during the Duterte administration are logical conclusions. But these developments will only put the UniTeam fallout hysteria on steroids and drown more fundamental issues like education, health, agriculture, and climate change, she explained.

“Let's bring the crucial messages for the Filipino people to make a good judgment during the elections, but not necessarily using another chaos. Mag-aaway na naman ‘yung pro and then ‘yung mga against [sa Uniteam characters if there will be an impeachment or ICC probe]. Diverted na naman [ang atensyon natin],” Co said. 

“Ang daming mahuhusay, takbo nang takbo, hindi naman nananalo (There are good candidates, but who don't win), because we have not given them attention. Kilalanin natin iyong mga kandidato, gusto natin iyong madrama eh. (Let's get to know the candidates, we often fall for the drama). We don't deserve this.  We don't deserve this kind of political dynamics. We have to stop this,” she added.

Co lamented that the public and the media are blinded by the UniTeam fallout spectacle, reducing if not eradicating media exposure of candidates outside of it. 

“‘Yung attention ng ating kababayan, naka-focus lang dun sa fallout ng UniTeam. Sobrang high drama [kasi] ito. Namimili [lang] ba tayo kung kanino kakampi between Team Sara at Team BBM. The rest, they fall out [of the public’s consciousness]. There are many other choices but the voters…ang pinamimilian nila ‘yung parang sinong bida, sinong kontrabida. But there's a bigger playing field na nawala sa eksena,” Co said.

“Do the other players not count? Nagka-count sila, pero only in as far as, kanino sila naka-align. And I mean, sadly, you are put in a situation where you have no choice. Ito lang [UniTeam] nakikita natin. May blinders na tayo dun sa iba, which is sayang. Pera o bayong na lang ba? Eh gusto ko ng attaché case [eh],” she added.

(Other players count but only as far as whom they are aligned with. Sadly, we are put in a situation again where we have no choice. This is all we see. We put blinders on others, which is a shame.) 

Co said an extended UniTeam drama is not only a disservice to voters but a problem for the Marcos administration as well. 

“We have to downplay the excessive drama. Let's get to the welfare of the country. Who can do well in terms of legislation? Who has the heart for the people? There's no discussion on these. And for all the Marcoses know, that's a whole game that they are falling a trap into. I'm sorry to say this, but I think it's really [Vice President] Sara’s game being played here,” she said.

“Our voters, our people, sometimes they want, we want the rugged, the true fighter. They’ll say, ‘yan ang champion ko. Pero ‘yung essence nung anong dadalhin ko sa bayan, anong agenda ko ng right or wrong… I've heard it in the groceries, supermarkets after the QuadComm and the threats made by the Vice President.People were saying matapang siya and matapang is magaling [for them],” she added.

(Our voters, our people, sometimes they want, we want the fighter, the rugged, the true fighter. They'll say, that's their champion. But we’re not yet politically mature to know the essence of what they will bring to the nation, their agenda of right or wrong. I've heard it in the groceries, supermarkets after the QuadComm and the threats made by the Vice President. Ordinary people would say, she is brave. And bravery is excellent for them.) 

The UP professor said the 2025 candidates should also make themselves and their platforms heard amid the Marcos-Duterte feud. 

“Those good at public service, [nasa] tama, nasaan ang daang matuwid? Hindi nakikita, hindi naririnig, because they're so downplayed. May the good citizens please stand up? Play your role. Be heard, be seen, be felt,” Co said.

(Those with good intentions seeking public office…where are they? They are unseen and unheard of because they're so downplayed.)—LDF/RSJ, GMA Integrated News