“Afool thinks of himself as wise, but a wise man knows himself to be a fool” (William Shakespeare). In politics, business or any profession, smart people can get fooled by their intelligence. It boils down to arrogance and pride, which hinder their ability to make sound decisions. The last two presidential elections are prime examples. Political candidates and parties that exhibited hubris instead of common sense and practical knowledge alienated most of the electorate and lost ignominiously in the process.
In the case of the latest hullabaloo in the House of Representatives and intramural politics within the Lakas-CMD party, I say that good judgment based on political wisdom is the key to resolving the differences among the main protagonists: Vice President Sara Duterte, Speaker Martin Romualdez and erstwhile Senior Deputy Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. They are all stalwarts of the UniTeam alliance that enabled President Marcos Jr. and Inday Sara to post historic victories in the 2022 general election. Romualdez even served as a co-campaign manager for Duterte’s vice-presidential run.
Disunity in UniTeam?
Given my loyalty to VP Sara and my ties with the current administration, people have asked me about the possible impact of the Lower House drama on the Marcos-Duterte alliance. Those who know that I have been friends with the Speaker since our law school days at the University of the Philippines are also curious if I have reached out to the Leyte solon regarding the issue. So, does the turn of events signal the beginning of the end for the UniTeam? Will it lead to a possible uncoupling of the Duterte-Arroyo faction from the Marcos government?
I am pretty sure that the diminished Opposition and disgruntled former Marcos supporters are salivating at the prospect of a UniTeam split or disintegration. Well, they can froth and drool all they want, but I am confident that an alliance break-up will not happen at any time. The President has nothing to do with the internal squabbling in the Lakas-CMD in the first place. He is not a member of the party. I can assure the millions of Marcos-Duterte supporters across the globe that the partnership has become even stronger.
Only a blind partisan will deny that the Vice President enjoys PBBM’s unconditional trust and confidence. To the administration’s credit, she has not been reduced to a mere spare tire or a cog in the wheel.
First, the President believes in her capacity to address basic education concerns and the insurgency problem. He appointed Inday Sara as co-vice chair of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict. She is also the concurrent secretary of education, which has the highest budgetary priority in government.
Second, every time PBBM goes on an official overseas trip, he would always designate Duterte as officer-in-charge. No vice president in recent history had enjoyed the same privilege.
Third, she has prudently sidestepped the public disagreements between her father, former president Duterte, and PBBM on policy matters such as the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement. Her silence is an expression of respect and loyalty to the President as the leader of the land and chief foreign policy architect. Fourth, Inday Sara has remained a no-nonsense public servant focused on fulfilling the mandate of her job. She provides strategic support to the President on programs and projects that uplift the Filipinos’ living standards and well-being.
Resolving issues
I am optimistic that the apparent rift between Inday Sara and Speaker Romualdez brought about by GMA’s demotion can still be remedied. My unsolicited advice to Martin is to immediately take the appropriate course of action. Ask the House leadership to reelect Arroyo as senior deputy speaker. The symbolic title befits her status as our 14th president, a senior stateswoman and a veteran legislator. She has earned it.
Over the last two decades, I have dealt with GMA as a critic and a colleague. One thing is certain, though, she is among the savviest politicians I know. So, I find it hard to believe she would commit political suicide through a power grab in the Lower House. She knows that the Speaker is the foremost adviser to and a very close cousin of PBBM. Apart from that, Martin has demonstrated competence as a leader, given that the Lower House has approved 31 out of the 42 priority measures of the executive department. Indeed, it will be a fool’s errand for any politician to stage a coup d’etat at this juncture.
I suspect that the lawmakers who instigated the Speaker and the House leadership to demote GMA are in Inday Sara’s bad books. The Speaker should treat the fates of his predecessors as a cautionary tale on political miscalculation.
I would also remind him to exercise circumspection in decision-making. It has a bearing on the ongoing power base build-up of Tingog Party-list, represented by his wife, Congresswoman Yedda Romualdez. Several Tingog Centers that provide medical services and ayuda to our kababayans have sprouted across the country. If my hunch is correct, the mid-term election in 2025 might serve as a litmus test for the Romualdez political brand in the national political arena.
His decision-making skills will also be crucial to his future political career. I know it is too early to make predictions for the 2028 election. But if Inday Sara decides to seek the presidency, I see Martin as a viable runningmate. Provided, of course, that they have patched up their differences and have aligned their socio-economic and political agenda for the nation. The formidable tandem could grab a majority of the Mindanao and Visayas votes with PBBM’s ‘Solid North’ as the cherry topping. They would have to work their magic on the National Capital Region and other Luzon regions.
I hope Martin will sit down and settle his misunderstanding with the Vice President as soon as possible.