Outmaneuvered

By Artchil B. Fernandez

On the 158^th birthday of the Great Plebeian, Gat Andres Bonifacio, administration presidential bet Bong Go dropped a bombshell. He announced his withdrawal from the presidential race three weeks after joining the contest.

Few days before the announcement, Go gave ominous statements before the media, publicly venting his agony. He claimed he is still in a “state of shock” over his presidential run. “My mind, heart, and body resist it. I am still in shock, and in a very difficult position. This was the party and President Duterte’s decision, to have someone run for president, rather than none.”

Governors allied with the administration attending a meeting in Malacañang two days before the decision sensed their presidential candidate’s impending withdrawal. Cagayan Governor Manuel Mamba had the impression Go is backing out. “The governors, other officials present, were all surprised. They kept looking at each other, seemingly asking, ‘What about us?’”

With dramatic flair, Go claimed he is pulling out from the race for the sake of his principal. “My love for him is more than the love for a father. He is old and he has given a lot to the country. So I don’t want to add to his problems. I remain loyal to him and I promised to be with him for life.”

Go also said he is conflicted with his candidacy. “In the past few days I realized that my heart and my mind are contradicting my actions. My body, heart and mind are really resisting. I’m just a human being who can get hurt and get tired also.”

The withdrawal of Bong Go from the presidential race represents the final collapse of Du30’s plan for the 2022 election. This is an astounding twist considering that Du30 entered the political scene with guns blazing and maintained his strongman image until recent events. This development is unthinkable three months ago.

Du30 crafted a seemingly flawless plan to control the succession process in preparation for the 2022 election. Using his presidential run as template, he staged an intricate drama designed to throw both the opposition and his allies in the ruling coalition off-balance. He wants his daughter to succeed him and put her rivals within the ruling coalition at bay through the politics of “pakipot.”

Popular “clamor” for the daughter to run for president was manufactured and early pre-election surveys appear to confirm the popular “outcry.” Sara Duterte on the other hand vows to finish her term as mayor and disavowed any presidential ambition.

The politics of “pakipot” however failed to leash Du30’s allies in the ruling coalition who were also nursing presidential aspiration. They did not wait for the final episode of Du30’s drama. Pacquiao was the first to bolt the ruling coalition while Bongbong Marcos in connivance with Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (GMA) bide for his time. It is now clear Du30’s other coalition partners do not want him to have his way.

Overextension of Du30’s drama gave Bongbong Marcos time to engineer his counter move. While Du30 was preoccupied enjoying his show, the dictator’s son laid the groundwork for his own run and plotted with GMA on how to foil the president’s game plan.  Their ultimate triumphed was snatching the daughter from the father.

It was too late when Du30 realized he was outmaneuvered by the Arroyo-Marcos faction of the ruling coalition. He was left high and dry when his daughter who is the central figure to his grand plan switched sides. Du30 tried to counter-move by first threatening to run against his daughter and when this did not work forced his loyal aide Bong Go to run for president.

But fielding Go was a move too late. It was seen as a desperate response and it did not gain traction. Go is now withdrawing his presidential bid. Du30’s best-laid plan crumbled and in the end, he was outfoxed, outsmarted and outwitted by the wily GMA.

For the first time in the country’s history, the ruling party is without a presidential candidate. It is a headless ruling party with many orphaned candidates, both national and local. This is not only an embarrassing but a humiliating situation for the ruling party.

The disarray of the ruling party and the disintegration of the ruling coalition indicate the colossal leadership failure of Du30. It punctured the much-hyped myth of Du30’s political acumen. He turned out to be a charlatan, a political pygmy.

Du30 will go down in history as an incumbent president who only has a supporting role or worse a mere bystander in the selection of his successor. This is the remaining option for Du30. He can either adopt a candidate or stay neutral. Whatever is his choice, he is no longer a key player in the current political game.

If he adopts a candidate he is seen as someone who is hitching on somebody’s wagon. An incumbent president who is a hitchhiker in a presidential election is outright humiliating. But being a mere onlooker in a crucial political event is the worst fate for a strongman who basks in the limelight and thinks he is the major player in the game.

Should Du30 choose to adopt a candidate, he has to eat dozens of humble pie. Will a narcissistic autocrat do this? He has publicly attacked and insulted all presidential bets. After saying terrible things to them will his words still have traction if he endorses one of them?  Will saying he was only joking then still save him? Du30’s failed drama serye has already turned the electoral process into a big joke, a cheap charade. It is doubtful if the disgusted public will give him a pass this time.

Instead of a box-office hit, Du30’s drama serye is a massive flop. He fell on his own sword.