The dilemma of Tres Marias

By Artchil B. Fernandez

“Cocaine-fentanyl war” or the War of Houses has placed three women in an awkward and uncomfortable position.  While the men of House Marcos and House Duterte have intensified their attack on each other, the women on the other hand are dancing a delicate balancing act.

The woman most torn by the intensifying conflict between Team Tigre and Team Agila is Vice President Sara Duterte.  The break-up of UniTeam is severely testing her political acumen if she has any.  It also placed a heavy pressure on her as she tries to navigate the perilous waters of national politics.  At stake is not only Inday Sara’s political future but her political survival.

As of now, Sara Duterte is trying to steer clear of the brewing conflict between her family and Bongbong Marcos (BBM).  She tries to appear above the fray, projecting a neutral stance.

When House Marcos and House Duterte had a showdown of rallies in the last weekend of last month, Inday Sara tiptoed through the tempest by attending both rallies.  She appeared at the re-launching of “Bagong Pilipinas” in Luneta, joining the delegation of the Department of Education (DepEd) who were strongly encouraged by a government memo to be present.

Sara Duterte, however, left before BBM and the rest of the cabinet members arrived missing the formal program.  She flew to Davao City to catch-up and be present in the “One Nation, One Opposition” prayer-rally of her family.  She did not speak at her family’s counter-rally merely listening to the tirades of her father and brothers against her boss.  Her silence indicates she is trying to “ride both horses” or “sail on two rivers.”

The crucial question is, “How long can Inday Sara play both sides and act neutral?”  Will her neutral and indifferent stance hold as the conflict between her family and House Marcos intensify and goes in higher crescendo?  How long can she stay in the cabinet when her father and brothers are positioning themselves as the new “opposition” to the current administration?

It seems Sara Duterte is headed to an untenable position.  She cannot have her cake and eat it too.  It is impossible for her to have a foot in the administration while the other foot is in the camp of the opposition.  Worst for Inday Sara, the “opposition” is not just anybody or nobody but members of her immediate family.

The shaky position of Sara Duterte is exposed with her lame reaction to the call of her brother Baste Duterte for BBM to resign.  She refused to condemn her brother and justified his outburst as expression of “brotherly love,” a reaction to the way she was treated by some people (Tambaloslos) in the administration.  Will BBM and people around him tolerate and accept such stale stance once the polarization between Team Tigre and Team Agila goes out of hand?

In the end Inday Sara will bite the bullet and make a stand.  There is no question she will side with her family.  It is only a matter of when.  Most likely, she will stay in the cabinet for as long as possible to maximize the position to her advantage.  But she will eventually leave if not shove out.

The other woman in the bind is Imee Marcos.  She is the elder sister of BBM but had been taking a critical stance on some policies of the present administration.  BBM’s pivot back to the US has been questioned by his sister as well as on the temporary hosting of Afghan refugees among other issues.  She claims her critical stance is her way of protecting her brother and their family name.

Imee Marcos also tried to stay away from the conflict between Team Tigre and Team Agila.  She declared she remained a friend and supporter of the Dutertes.  In fact she did not attend the “Bagong Pilipinas” rally but instead was seen in the Dutertes’ prayer-rally where she had to endure the tirades of the elder Duterte and his sons against her brother.  What was she thinking when Du30 called her brother a drug addict and the sons took turn lambasting him?

How long can Imee Marcos maintain her friendly relation with the Dutertes?  They are already claiming to be the center of a new “opposition” to the current administration.  As the conflict between the macho Dutertes and her brother deepen, it will be difficult for Imee Marcos to stand on the side and enjoy the show.  A time will come when she too must take a stand.  Like Sara Duterte, she will likely be on the side of her family.  The macho Dutertes never trust her anyway.

The third woman who is caught in the middle of the “cocaine-fentanyl war” is the chief architect of UniTeam, former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (GMA).  At the outset of the war, she was firmly on the side of the Dutertes.  She was the first casualty in war, twice stripped of her high position in the House.  GMA is also Inday Sara’s political mentor.

Lately, GMA is silent as the war between House Marcos and House Duterte heats up.  She attended BBM’s “Bagong Pilipinas” rally and did not utter a word when Du30 threatened to separate Mindanao from the rest of the country.  Definitely, GMA is in deep quandary.  The Dutertes are important allies but her obsession with power and hunger to be influential and remain politically relevant prevents her from making an open break with BBM.  She is caught in the crossfire and her cunning appears to be losing its touch.

The dilemma of the “Tres Marias” will only deepen and worsen as the clash between Team Agila and Team Tigre escalates.  Enjoy the show.