THE nation is swirling in the muddy hole of political instability once more — not the fault of its people, but due to the intolerance, corruption, and greed for power of its leaders.
That, in so many words, summarizes the socio-political lay of the land that the Filipino people have found themselves in at the moment.
Consider the following events that have taken place during the past couple of days:
— Intense grilling by House of Representatives members of Vice President Sara Duterte and her immediate staff in the Office of the Vice President now and in the Department of Education earlier pushed Sara in a corner further on, widening the gap between her and President Bongbong Marcos. Exchanges of vitriolic personal attacks between Marcos and Duterte, and among their supporters, did not help any to dissipate the tension.
‘We bet the majority of the Filipino people are sick and tired of this political tug-of-war.’
— VP Sara felt terribly harassed when she joined her chief of staff, Atty. Zuleika Lopez in the House where she’s detained, especially when Lopez was ordered moved to the prison for women in the middle of the night, triggering her personal illness.
— The above incident prompted the Vice President to lose her cool, swear at the President and the First Lady, and divulge that should her political enemy succeed in killing her, she has already talked with someone who agreed to kill Marcos, Mrs. Louise Marcos, and Speaker Martin Romualdez, whom she accused of plotting against her life and position.
This triggered a long line of government law enforcement agencies to rally behind the President, which is just expected because they are all under him in the Executive Department and in the chain of command.
— Duterte supporters called the Maisug group have ramped up their Friday gatherings at EDSA, first making a vigil at the Veterans Memorial Hospital gate, then moving to the Catholic-run EDSA Shrine in Quezon City hoping to inspire a surge in anti-Marcos sentiment once more, just like the Cory days.
— Former President Rodrigo Duterte came to the aid of his daughter and issued a reminder to the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police to respect and defend the Constitution. This was countered by military chief Gen. Romeo Brawner who told soldiers not to be rattled by the “myriad of events that transpired in our country” and to stay professional amid a widening rift between Bongbong Marcos and Sara Duterte, once the epitome of friendship and unity. Brawner assured the public that the troops respect the chain of command and are professional and competent.
— In a move that smacks of political color, the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame has relieved some 65 police officers from the Davao region and reassigned to various provinces in Luzon. Imagine the trouble and inconvenience such a reassignment would entail for these cops and their family members. This happened even as Sen. Bato dela Rosa said they are ready “to rumble” if and when Sara is arrested.
We bet the majority of the Filipino people are sick and tired of this political tug-of-war. Former senator Panfilo Lacson’s advice for a “ceasefire” for both camps is in order.
