Policy over politika for 2028

In the blood sport of Philippine politics, the standard playbook for unseating a frontrunner is predictable: deploy preemptive character assassination, trigger institutional law-fare and wear down public standing long before official campaigning begins. As the political machinery turns its sights toward the 2028 elections, with Vice President Sara Duterte having already declared her presidential candidacy, she remains the central lightning rod of this time-tested strategy. Yet, a fundamental question goes unasked by political strategists: why not simply out-govern, out-think and beat her at the ballot box? In other words, why not just beat Sara Duterte at the polls. Period.

It seems to me, over and over again, mudslinging will time immemorial be the most effective way to outdo a strong rival – especially one that has a clear and loyal base. But the problem with our politics is that many so called “operatives” seem to keep functioning under the assumption that a frontrunner with a resilient regional base cannot be defeated on policy alone. Rather than offering a compelling alternative vision for the country, rival factions often opt for a war of attrition – using continuous news cycles, legislative inquiries and personal attacks to lower an opponent’s baseline popularity before a single vote is cast.

The problem with this strategy, however, is that first, when campaigns center entirely on tearing down an individual, policy takes a backseat. Issues that directly affect daily life such as education reform, inflation, food and job security are sadly left unaddressed. Candidates spend millions framing their rivals as unfit rather than proving themselves capable. The result is a political environment driven by politika rather than progress.

Then there’s the issue of backfire. For a voting base built on loyalty, relentless mudslinging does not persuade; it in fact hardens resolve.

And then you have voter fatigue. Millions of uncommitted, pragmatic voters are exhausted by the perpetual partisan feuds. Therefore, a candidate brave enough to step off the mudslinging merry-go-round stands to capture a broad electorate that values stability over political score-settling.

Personally, and additionally, the heavy burden on the middle class cannot be ignored. While political elites trade blows and urge ordinary citizens to “tighten their belts” amid economic strain, the heaviest financial burden falls squarely on the shoulders of the working middle class. Salaried workers are told to cut back on expenses and have their taxes automatically withheld at source, giving them zero room to adjust. As Mon Abrea, the prominent tax expert and “Tax Whiz” of the Philippines, pointed out, the middle class is effectively “being squeezed to death,” bearing the vast majority of personal income tax collections while receiving third-world public services in return. Mon Abrea rightly rebutted the narrative that ordinary earners must simply endure more sacrifices, arguing instead that the system is deeply unfair when the middle class carries the weight of tax revenues without receiving the institutional support or infrastructure they pay for. Asking citizens to continuously sacrifice while politicians waste energy and public resources on political infighting is both economically unjust and morally indefensible.

Ultimately, dragging down opponents and overburdening taxpayers are the marks of weak leadership.

On the other hand, true servant leadership is measured by concrete commitments to the public good that offer radical transparency and protect public funds, especially those from the hard-earned middle-class taxes that ought to be shielded from corruption. True servant leadership provides real institutional strength that never weaponizes government bodies against their political enemies. Such institutions are resilient and non-partisan in nature.

Lastly, a true servant leader will always honor a genuine people-first policy that includes evidence-based solutions for agriculture, infrastructure, health care, education and tax reform.

This is precisely why voting wisely is important now more than ever, and why comprehensive voter education is crucial for our democracy. Voter education equips citizens with critical thinking tools to filter out sensationalism, deepfakes and social media propaganda. When voters are empowered to look past personalities, they begin demanding detailed platforms and measurable track records instead of showbiz politics. Voting wisely means recognizing that our vote is not a favor to a politician – it is our primary tool to contract capable leaders who will manage the country responsibly.

Take for instance Jesus Christ. I truly believe that the best historical record one could ever look at for guidance is the Bible. When confronted with the hyper-partisan political forces of His era, Jesus famously refused to play the game of political mudslinging or power grabbing. We can surely learn a lot from His teachings and in fact consider them as the blueprint for our own political system. Jesus simply inverted the whole power paradigm by teaching that “whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant” (Matthew 20:26).

Prioritizing policy over politika is not naive idealism – it is the only functional roadmap for national survival. Personalities age and dynasties fall, leaving behind institutional decay. A victory achieved through mudslinging produces no lasting infrastructure and solves no economic crises but policy builds systems that outlast the leaders who wrote them.

Bottom line is, political mudslinging doesn’t build a single school, lower the price of rice or generate a single job. It is a tool for those who fear their accomplishments will never be enough to win on merit.

The path to 2028 must be about who has the vision to pull the nation higher. If you want to prove you deserve to lead the Philippines, don’t waste time tearing down your enemies; build a country so strong that their failures no longer matter.