Showdown of Political Illusions

Once upon a time, the Marcos-Duterte “Unity Team” rode high on the promise of, well, unity. Fast forward to today, and the fairy tale is unraveling faster than a political slogan under scrutiny.

In the latest episode of this dynastic drama, we have assassination threats, a flurry of subpoenas, and the obligatory finger-pointing.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. channels his inner law-and-order defender, condemning Vice President Sara Duterte’s alleged threats against him and his inner circle.

Duterte, not one to shy away from a mic (or a Zoom meeting), fires back with cryptic quips about fairness—or the lack thereof.

It’s a masterclass in distraction. Poverty? Hunger? Education? Why tackle those when you can stage a telenovela for the masses?

Marcos and Duterte might have different styles, but they share one undeniable talent: creating spectacles to mask the same old political preservation game.

Marcos plays the statesman, draped in his family’s repackaged legacy, promising progress while ordinary Filipinos wonder how to pay for their next meal.

Duterte doubles down on the fiery rhetoric, invoking her father’s legacy of “double talk” with a mix of bravado and victimhood.

Let’s not kid ourselves—this isn’t a clash of ideals. It’s a clash of egos. Dynasties don’t feud over principles; they feud over power, plain and simple.

The so-called “rule of law” and “justice” they invoke? They’re props in this political theater, only rolled out when convenient.

Meanwhile, the people remain spectators, enduring gut-wrenching inflation, dismal public services, and a justice system that moves at the speed of molasses.

Instead of solutions, they get a front-row seat to the Marcos-Duterte soap opera, where every plot twist is about preserving the family brand.

It’s time for the real institutions—the Ombudsman, judiciary, and constitutional bodies—to step up and stop playing cameo roles in this drama.

The Filipino people deserve more than recycled promises and dynasty-driven rivalries.

But until then, grab your popcorn. This show, tragically, isn’t ending anytime soon.