‘But if economic performance is a factor in this second round, the Marcos camp deserves a point in slaying inflation to 0.9 percent and holding off unemployment at only 3.7 percent.’
THE series of political events, from the mid-term elections to the Supreme Court’s decision on the Sara Duterte impeachment case, have painted a concerning picture for the administration.
The past few months delivered a series of stunning political victories for the Duterte faction, leaving the Marcos administration grappling with defeat after defeat.
The first blow came with the May 2025 midterm elections. Despite the immense machinery of the presidency, the administration’s “Alyansa” ticket struggled to secure a clear majority, with key Duterte allies along with opposition stalwarts winning the senatorial race.
This outcome is a powerful testament to the enduring populist appeal of the Duterte brand, particularly in their traditional bailiwicks and beyond.
It also suggests that the Duterte base remains a formidable, independent political force while the president’s side, with all the trappings of power, failed to translate its authority into a decisive electoral victory.
The second and perhaps most significant defeat came from the Supreme Court (SC).
The SC ruling, which declared the impeachment complaint against the Vice President “unconstitutional,” is a significant blow to the president’s House allies who had championed the move. It has not only shielded the Vice President and her coterie of “Mary Grace Piattos” from a humiliating trial but also effectively torpedoed a major political attack against them.
The final and most recent episode in this trilogy of defeats is the Senate’s decision to archive the impeachment complaint, in compliance with the SC ruling and amidst a pending motion for reconsideration of the House of Representatives.
The jarring political optics are undeniable.
The Senate, which could have been the stage for a dramatic flexing of the president’s influence, instead acted as the final resting place for the impeachment effort. The Senate delivered the knockout punch that finally sealed the matter. For all intents and purposes, the President has just lost “his” Senate Wednesday night.
Collectively, these three events – the disappointing election performance, the SC ruling and the Senate’s archiving of the complaint – underscore the resiliency of the Dutertes.
The president’s camp, which had hoped to consolidate power and push its own agenda, has instead been placed on the defensive, and forced to react to the maneuvers of its former allies while staring in horror at the treachery of their supposed Senate allies.
It now finds itself in a precarious position, desperately needing a significant political victory to reassert its authority and demonstrate it is in control.
Without a clear win, the narrative of a wounded presidency will only grow stronger, potentially emboldening its rival and complicating its ability to effectively govern in the next three years.
If this was a boxing match, the Duterte bloc won this second round by 3-0.
The Marcos-Romualdez team took the first round – 2-0 — when the impeachment complaint sailed through the House and former president Rodrigo Duterte was sent to The Hague.
It’s 2-1 if the Senate’s remanding of the complaint will be considered a win for the Duterte team.
But if economic performance is a factor in this second round, the Marcos camp deserves a point in slaying inflation to 0.9 percent and holding off unemployment at only 3.7 percent.
But the score still favors the Duterte team: 3-1.
A losing scorecard exposes a growing perception that the power of the Duterte dynasty remains potent and, in many respects, the Dutertes still hold the upper hand.
The Marcos administration must now contend with a rival that has been repeatedly and publicly validated by the very institutions of government such as elections, judiciary and legislature.
