Indeed in politics there are no permanent friends; only personal interest.
Look what happens now to the leading personalities in the so-called UniTeam during the 2022
Presidential and Vice Presidential elections – President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio. During the first and a half years after assumption of their positions they were almost inseparables. During a Brigada Eskwela activity they were seen doing odd jobs of painting school chairs together.
Every time President Marcos Jr. goes out of the country for official business VP Sara is designated Officer-in-Charge of the President’s office.
Then came that hot issue on the spending by VP Sara allegedly in only eleven days of a P125 million confidential and intelligence funds (CIF). The issue came up when the VP requested for another CIF which the House of Representatives questioned. The inquiry eventually led to the demand of Congress for the VP to explain how her CIF was used upon knowing the spending was consummated in just eleven days.
Another thing that could have triggered the parting of ways of the two former allies was the strong objection of VP Sara’s father Former President Rodrigo R. Duterte to the so-called People’s Initiative scheme of changing the Philippine Constitution, the very same intention of the former President when he launched his bid for the Presidency in 2016. It is common knowledge that the former Chief Executive dismally failed in that self-imposed mantra of his.
It was from there that the rift between the Dutertes and the President with all the parties perceived aligned with him became bitter and nastier with the former President even calling the President “addict” or in the kanto language “bangag.”
These days, roughly nine months prior to the May 25 elections next year the political protagonists are each trying to enter into alliances with various political groups or parties. The President and his group is trying also to get closer to the so-called “Kakampinks” and the legitimate political opposition – the Liberal Party.
On the other hand the Dutertes claiming their side of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP) Party is the new opposition, are also discreetly reaching out to some Kakampink top brass and those personalities who were “sidelined” by the Marcos, Jr.’s administration.
The latest of the apparent “courtship” was VP Sara’s sudden visit to former VP and losing Presidential candidate Leni Robredo. The VP used as her reason her having the opportunity to call on the former VP of her father when she attended the feast of Penafrancia on invitation by a friend in Naga City. Until her visit to former VP Leni the incumbent Vice President would not attempt to touch the Bicolana former official even with the proverbial “ten-foot pole.” But now, with the Vice President believed to be interested to run for President in 2028, she and her group are now doing the unexpected if only to strengthen her base and the foundation of her possible candidacy.
Right after the VP’s Robredo visit, the administration came running sending its emissaries to the former VP led by no less than the Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
Was the DILG executive’s visit to the former VP the administration’s way of putting out a fire that could have been stoked by the VP’s meeting with Robredo? For certain in due time the people will know. And what most appropriate time to do the strengthening but this early. And what better way it is than making friends with a former political enemy. It is one effective option to take in expanding one’s support base.
Meanwhile, a Marcos, Jr.’s success in enticing some leading personalities in the original and traditional opposition to believe that his administration’s agenda is similar to the former’s, then the President’s loss in the Dutertes estrangement would be evenly substituted by those whom his group would possible have allied with him for one reason or another.
And why are both sides of the political equation doing this? They want to keep their selfish interest evenif they have to do away with friends made in the course of their supposed journey for public service.
Of course they can have all the justifications they want to support their action. After all, in politics, especially in the Philippines, there are no permanent friends; only permanent interest.
