If and when Inday Sara runs for president

It is not a matter of “if but “when”. And even the “when” is very obvious, 2022. The next presidential derby in 2028 is too far. That is assuming that, by then, our country is not yet the Federal Parliamentary Federal Republic of Maharlika. If this latter scenario comes about, then Sara Duterte can be the prime minister and head of government, and Duterte's ally Bongbong Marcos can be president and head of state, or the other way around. In this country, everything is possible. And all signs today point to the more probable option of a Duterte-Marcos tandem in 2022.

The lawyers have a Latin maxim: “Res ipsa loquitor,” the thing speaks for itself. Why do you think a city mayor would go around the country campaigning for senatorial candidates? Only a stupid fool refuses to see the inevitable answer. Why would that mayor organize a separate political party called “Hugpong Ng Pagbabago” if she does not nourish a wish for Malacañan? And why would that "Hugpong" enter into a series of tactical alliances with regional parties? The answer, my friend, as the song goes, is blowing in the wind.

And why did the Dutertes, using Sara as the front, abandon an old and trusted ally, former Speaker Pantaleon "Bebot" Alvarez, and install GMA as the new Speaker? Isn't it obvious the Dutertes are strengthening their political influence in the north? It is not just to resuscitate the dying embers of GMA's political fire. It is precisely to secure Central Luzon's vote-rich populace, most especially Pampanga. This region voted heavily for President Rody Duterte against Mar Roxas and Grace Poe in 2016. That only means GMA, despite her many “sins”, remains the strongest political titan in the Central Plains of Luzon, stronger than Tarlac's Noynoy Aquino. The Hugpong initial senatorial campaign salvo was held in Pampanga, not Davao. Sara obviously wants to seal her political influence over this region. The only problem is Western Visayas, the kingdom of Roxas and Drilon, and Bicol, the turf of Robredo, de Lima and Trillanes. But these can be mended later.

Why do you think the Dutertes opted to support the Marcoses, despite their many “sins” too? It’s not just to repay a political debt, President Rody's late father, Vicente Duterte, having been a member of President Marcos’ Cabinet. It’s not so much about the past; it’s really about the future. Why did President Duterte continue to say many good words about Bongbong Marcos in the campaign for the 2016 presidential derby, despite the fact that Duterte's running mate was Allan Peter Cayetano? The answer is obviously blowing in the wind. The Dutertes are consistently endearing themselves to the Marcoses obviously to target the Solid North votes of the Ilocanos, as well as whatever remains of the Romualdez influence of the Waray votes in Eastern Visayas.

In Cebu, you know very well with whom the Dutertes are aligning with. It’s not because the Dutertes love the Garcias. It is because, they have to pick up whoever oppose the LPs, and that happens to be the Garcias. In politics there are no permanent allies or enemies. There are only permanent interests. It is the interests of the Dutertes and the Garcias too. They have to hold hands now, then fight each other later. Why? The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind. Only fools don’t see the obvious.