A big lame duck looking for bigger scapegoats

It’s becoming clear the Dutertes are winning over the Marcoses in the area of public relations and political maneuvers.

It has been said, and rightly so, that politicians are natural-born political animals. That’s why an incumbent whose party candidates lost in the last election is correctly called a lame duck. But since he isn’t inclined to just admit the faults that caused his defeat, he points fingers at other sacrificial lambs.

The president didn’t expect his party's bets to lose. The Alyansa had superior war chests, in billions. The administration has many taipans, tycoons, business magnates, and industry barons lining up to contribute their share. That’s why businessmen hate elections. They end up funding campaigns.

Throughout the election campaign, the administration ticket had control over Ayuda, 4Ps, Tupad, Akap, and AICS. The incumbents have a big chunk of confidential funds to buy the support of the many versions of Mary Grace Piattos. Many running for reelection or other posts had full use of budgets for travel, representation, and transportation.

Despite its advantages, out of twelve, or eleven without Imee, the majority party only managed to win five seats. That wasn’t a mediocre performance for an administration ticket. It was a disaster.

But given their huge handicaps, how did Bong Go and Bam Aquino manage to top the race while big spenders like Benhur Abalos, Francis Tolentino, Nancy Binay, Manny Pacquiao, and Willy Revillame ate the dust? The president's party was tested and found wanting. The pulse of the people has shifted. And the president should take full responsibility.

Neither the president, first lady, nor the speaker can blame campaign manager Toby Tiangco for that debacle. Tiangco was like a salesman who was trying very hard to sell a damaged product from a company with a tarnished public image. How could Toby sell Tolentino who was seen by the people in Mindanao and the Visayas as ungrateful to the Dutertes?

It was former president Duterte who helped Tol to become a senator after a number of attempts. Visayans hate ingratitude. When the Dutertes were down, Sara was impeached, Digong was arrested, Tolentino, a lawyer and Senate chairman of powerful committees didn’t say a word. His silence was deafening. Imee showed gratitude.

Looking for scapegoats, the president called for resignations of all Cabinet secretaries and advisers. It was equivalent to saying that his alter egos weren’t performing and delivering. If the alter ego didn’t deliver, the buck should stop right with the president. If BBM were a Japanese prime minister, a day after May 12, he should have tendered his resignation.

The people of Mindanao and most of the Visayas have withdrawn their support for BBM. Metro Manila and Cebu, both provinces and cities, have expressed disapproval of the administration. Many of the administration candidates lost in the last elections. The senior majority floor leader, Mannix Dalipe of Zamboanga, lost. Gwen Garcia, Jonas Cortes and many others lost in Cebu. And in many other provinces and cities.

Let us just say that BBM is a lame duck who is now desperately looking for scapegoats to blame and sacrificial lambs to take the bullet for him. The problem is there are many contented cows who are his allies in the House.

And with such guys in the Senate like Bong Go, Bato, Robinhood, Marcoleta, and Imee, it can be said there are far too many elephants in the room. There are many yellow dogs in the LGUs who can stage a series of strikes come barangay and SK elections in December. There are also crocodiles and other predators scouting for prey.

The lion is wounded. And there are too many snakes, hyenas, and vultures lurking around just waiting for the right moment to strike. The monkey-eating eagle from the South may attack any time too. And wait for the tiger coming from The Hague. In both chambers of Congress, there are doves for reconciliation, but the hawks who seek an eye for eye outnumber the peacemakers.

Every small fry like each one of us should watch our backs for sharks and piranhas around. The bats hiding in the caves of indifference for not wanting to take sides should now come out of hiding and decide whether they are birds or mammals. The hottest place in hell is reserved for the indifferent and the neutral. There is going to be a major showdown between the birds and the beasts soon.

There is trouble in the animal kingdom.