I Have A Conspiracy Theory: Duterte-Duterte

Things are starting to get clearer in my mind about the 2022 Philippine elections.

We all have our own conspiracy theories in the back of our minds, and here’s one of mine:

The mad rush is on to float the names of potential candidates and tandems for President and Vice President. The Administration and Opposition both.

On the Opposition side, of course there’s Leni Robredo in a possible tandem with Manila Mayor Isko Moreno. They sort of “tested the waters” by appearing jointly in a recent vaccination project in Manila.

Then there’s Antonio Trillanes who makes no secret about his ambition for the top positions of the land. He also expressed “grievance” over the Liberal Party’s plan to tap Administration allies for its 2022 slate.

Of late, former Duterte ally Manny Pacquiao seems to have launched his own propaganda campaign in his quest for the Presidency, donning the “boxing gloves” against the old man himself.

Now, on the Administration side, Presidential Daughter Sara Duterte seems to be the person to beat, notwithstanding the fact that she has not publicly made known her real intentions for 2022. To make things all the more confusing, there have been statements that Rodrigo does not want his daughter to run for President, and Sara who has her own political party apart from his father’s, saying a Duterte-Duterte tandem is never going to happen.

Sara entertained visitors over the past several weeks, including Bongbong Marcos and Gibo Teodoro. Teodoro publicly admitted that he is open to be Sara’s running mate should she decide to vie for the Presidency. There is also some speculation that Congressman Martin Romualdez could be in the running to be Sara’s VP.

Now, the big game changer: PDP-Laban, the Administration’s political party, has said that it is open to having Bong Go and Rodrigo Duterte as it’s Presidential and VP candidate in 2022. But does Go, other than being the closest confidant to Duterte, have the qualifications and mettle to be President? Or is this a part of a sinister plan to ensure a Duterte-Duterte win in 2022?

Since a vote for President is not necessarily a vote for Vice President under the Philippine’s political system, it is not only possible but highly likely that voters will “cross-vote” in 2022, voting for one party’s Presidential candidate while voting for another party’s VP candidate.

And so, my conspiracy theory takes shape. Because of the popularity of father and daughter, not to mention a clamor for the father to remain in office, albeit as VP, for another 6 years, when the winners in the 2022 elections are proclaimed, are we going to hear a loud “Duterte-Duterte?”

Are Marcos, Teodoro, Romualdez — or even Pacquaio — mere pawns sent to protect the Queen?

Duterte’s Legacy In Brief

June 30 marks exactly 365 days left in President Rodrigo Duterte’s 6-year term as President. When he steps down, what would be his clear legacy?  Certainly not the fulfillment of two of his big promises: ridding the country of illegal drugs and corruption.  It was unfortunate that the last two years have been “interrupted” by the Covid-19 pandemic.  Many will see that as an excuse for missed opportunities and tasks left undone, but others will also use that to pass judgment on his leadership and management ability to plan, implement and pursue effective measures that would have, and could, lessen the impact of the pandemic on the economy and the Filipino people.

For sure, many will point to his “Build, Build, Build” program which came up with very impressive mega projects, although critics are quick to point out that many of these infrastructure were conceived and/or started during previous administrations.  But BBB may not be felt by many Filipinos as the projects were concentrated in the National Capital Region and other major centers in the country.

Duterte’s China policy has been met with both praise and criticism, while his overall economic program will have to await judgment based on what happens in the years after he leaves office.

Accusations of extra-judicial killings in connection with his war on drugs will continue to haunt him after, and especially when he loses his immunity from legal and criminal charges.

But overall, Duterte will be remembered as the President who has consistently gained and maintained favor with a huge number in the constituency, a record that even the so-called great leaders of the West and developed countries, envy to this very day.

The recent passing of NoyNoy Aquino immediately elicited both statements and conjecture about what he will be remembered most about. One side points to the big tragedies that marked his term in office: the murder of Hong Kong tourists, SAF 44, and his administration’s response to the Yolanda disaster. The other side was quick to point out PNoy’s standing up to China (and the Tribunal ruling on West Philippine Sea). But, then, the other best thing we’ve heard from them was that Aquino “did what he could,” and that could be either good enough or not at all.

What will Duterte be most remembered about?