Dropping 3 impeachment articles, akin to Fischer’s first 2-game loss in a chess match

“Belatedly I was having second thoughts. I had no reason to be taking this risk. I could be halfway out already. I said I wouldn’t do this anymore. Overconfidence and these half-baked plans will be the death of me.” ― Audranasa

WAS it a case of hubris on the part of the prosecution panel? Or overconfidence? Or both?

Whatever was the reason behind their decision to drop the three of the four impeachment articles against Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio, they may have already smelled victory, or a conviction based on the damning pieces of evidence unveiled in the testimonies of forensic financial analyst Alexander Cabrera in Article II, which accuses Mrs. Duterte-Carpio of amassing unexplained wealth and failing to disclose assets or divest from prohibited business interests.

We don’t need a bazooka, a revolver, and a bayonet because we have sharpened the Samurai?

Two early to celebrate? Not so fast, folks.

Charlie Parker once warned that the desire for victory is a common trait that connects all life on planet Earth.

A tree will grow in the direction that provides the most sunlight for its leaves to maximize its probability of survival.

Lionesses will mate with the strongest male lion to maximize the probability of their offspring’s viability and success.

But no matter how hard we try, we can never guarantee victory and success.

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If there were a person who could guarantee victory every time, that person would become the richest person in human history, Parker emphasized.

Imagine a quarterback who could never lose, or a scientist who always came up with the perfect formula.

Cocksure of becoming the first American-born world chess champion, Robert James “Bobby” Fischer supposedly “threw away intentionally” the first two games of his world chess championship match against defending champion Boris Spassky of Soviet Union in Reykjavik, Iceland in 1972.

But unlike the late American genius who would become the sixth non-Russian world chess champion even after the 0-2 deficit, there is no clear sign yet that the prosecution panel’s shocking decision to drop the three articles of impeachment will result in the conviction of the beleaguered Philippine vice president.

As of this writing, the prosecution panel continued to receive flaks even from supporters who didn’t agree with their decision.

After yielding the first two important games in the 21-game championship series played at the height of the Cold War, Fischer, then 29, faced heavy criticism for self-destruction, lack of emotional control, and erratic behavior.

Despite the disastrous start, Fischer wrested the world chess title by a commanding 12.5-8.5 points victory over the then 35-year-old Soviet champion on September 1, 1972.

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Fischer’s Game 2 loss drew widespread condemnation for throwing a temper tantrum, protesting the noise and TV cameras in the hall, and failing to show up to the board. This self-inflicted default put him in a 2–0 hole against Spassky.

Soviet and Western analysts alike suggested that Fischer allowed his nerves and temper to crack under the massive pressure of the match, letting Spassky lure him into an emotional collapse.

There were concerns and fears from chess officials, the media, and even United States representatives that Fischer’s constant saber rattling, paranoia, demands, and refusal to show up would sabotage the match or lead to a complete embarrassment.

There were pundits who claimed, however, that Fischer did not actually sacrifice two games against the reigning Soviet world champion; rather, he lost the first game by over-the-board play (after miscalculating a bishop move) and forfeited the second game by failing to show up.

In Game 1, Fischer really lost, the pundits claimed, when he played a controversial bishop sacrifice (29…Bxh2), which trapped his piece. Some conspiracy theories or speculative opinions suggested he might have miscalculated or played bizarrely on purpose, but many chess historians viewed it as a real miscalculation or risky struggle rather than a deliberate game sacrifice.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor-in-chief of two leading daily newspapers in Iloilo, Philippines.—Ed)