EDITORIAL - In control and gaining in strength

Thousands of officials and politicians in Cebu are expected to shed their present political affiliations and don a new one representing the PDP-Laban party of President Rodrigo Duterte. Observers will likely be split in characterizing the move. Some will underscore political turncoatism while others will highlight political opportunism.

Whatever the real score may be in that regard, and however precise or off the mark the characterizations might be, there is another attribute to the emerging development that just cannot be denied -and it is that this huge shift in weight reflects in no uncertain terms the continuing popularity of Duterte despite all that has been said against him by critics.

Moreover, it tends to validate what the surveys have consistently shown so far, that the president continues to enjoy considerable trust and support. And while it is true that the surveys have shown a drop in the ratings of Duterte, such ratings have remained comfortably high, or at least high enough given the criticisms he is getting.

Normally, political defections happen right after an election when the results are in and a new center of power has emerged or been defined. Some even occur before an election when incontrovertible trends are established. Both of these occurrences in fact happened to Duterte. But this is one of the rare times when such movements happen long after an election, and especially in the midst of unrelenting political criticisms.

Surely these "defectors" have seen something in the clouds that made them belatedly take the leap. And what they saw must clearly be convincing enough to make them decide to make the move at the time they are doing so. Certainly they realize there is something in it for them, something politically expedient. And there has to be something in it for Duterte as well.

The move to the political party of Duterte will also considerably weaken the strength of other parties, especially those at the center of the anti-Duterte criticisms. As to whether there will be a corresponding weakening of the criticisms remains to be seen. What is clear at this point is that, despite everything Duterte is being subjected to, both here and abroad, Duterte has nothing to fear. He is firmly in control.