BY:DONALD SEVILLA
TIME TO CHANGE STRIPES
The voting in the Congress’ plenary for the endorsement of the VP’s impeachment to the Senate was much awaited.
Many were waiting with bated breath how their respective lawmakers will cast their votes on such a politically charged and sensitive subject.
To both the supporters and critics of VP Sara, this was a field day to determine who among the legislature deserves their support or condemnation in the upcoming 2028 elections.
Yet many of those who took sides against her in earlier Congressional proceedings were starting to feel the pinch.
Make no doubt about it, the Vice President is still popular among our people. Despite all the dirt being thrown at her,the public pulse is strong and vibrant in her favor.
The Duterte magic still pervades, cult-like among his followers and loyalists. So subjecting the Vice President to these kinds of political machinations is a risky gamble for those who wish to hang on to power come 2028.
Because of this, some reconsidered their previous stand on the VP’s impeachment. The ” maleta” issue had stuck to people’s minds like gospel truth reinforced by the flood control scandal.
Yet we have to be wary about the political divisiveness sprouting hereabouts. While many consider Malacanang as a lameduck, the administration can still muster a few tricks up its sleeve.
Make no mistake, the administration still remains strong despite our people’s grumbling and frustrations. With what’s happening in the Middle East and our country’s strategic role in the region to counter China’s expansionist ambitions in the West Philippine sealanes, our big brother Uncle Sam cannot afford for things to go awry.
What has complicated matters was Duterte’s so called “independent foreign policy” which the West saw as a pivot towards China. Were it not for this, we could have have seen a sudden change of heart from our foreign friends.
To some analysts, this is what has kept this administration alive until the next Presidential polls. Our present political turmoil is understandable as both sides are scrambling to outdo each other to gain advantage to protect their interests.
In the meantime, the Filipino people are caught in the middle, victims of too much politics and suffering to scrape at the bottom of the barrel.
Where government and our leaders could have spent more time and effort to ease our burdens, they are kept busy by focusing on partisanship and alliances for their political survival.
Can a tiger change its stripes? While politicians see all these as a game, our people envision it as a matter of life or death for their families’ future.