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19 October 2024
Conventional wisdom holds that the midterm election in the Philippines serves as a referendum on the incumbent President. The Midterms of 2025, in many respects, functions as a proxy for the 2028 presidential elections.
In a previous analysis, we postulated that if Sara Duterte were to secure victory in the Senate race of 2025, it would revalidate her mandate. However, the Vice President appears content to maintain her current position rather than assume the risk. The other members of the Duterte family have retreated to Davao, where they are under siege. The Nograles family has taken the initiative of fielding Karlo Nograles as Mayor of Davao in direct opposition to his former boss, President Rodrigo Duterte. Meanwhile, Migs Nograles is engaged in a contest with Paolo, ‘Pulong’ Duterte in the first district of Davao. The Duterte family’s defense of Davao serves as a strong indicator of their waning influence and their retreat.
Throughout his tenure as a senator, Bong Go consistently maintained his relative independence from Rodrigo Duterte. He may well be the successor to Rodrigo Duterte that Vice President Sara Duterte and the other Duterte children have been unable to achieve. The ambition of Go, coupled with Sara Duterte’s well-known animosity towards the Marcos administration, explains the persistent attacks from the Greens on the administration and administration candidates.
It is also a sign of their weakness.
The outdated playbook online is all that remains of the Duterte bravado. They are unable to translate air superiority with gains on the ground.
Bong Go is the last remaining member of Duterte’s entourage and family. He has largely escaped corruption allegations and the conflict between Marcos and Duterte. He remains popular. His astute management of Malasakit Centers was a political triumph. He seized upon the law’s intended purpose for healthcare and branded it under his own name. A defeat in the polls or a poor showing for Go in the polls further underscores the waning influence of the Dutertes.
The investigation in Congress about extrajudicial killings during the Duterte era underscores the continued and persistent dismantling of the Duterte infrastructure. Previously immune to attacks, Bong Go, the former President’s chief lieutenant, is now embroiled in the controversy. We anticipate that this controversy will weaken Bong Go and potentially lead to his downfall.
The Marcos administration’s assault on the Duterte infrastructure necessitates decisive action to neutralize or defeat Rodrigo Duterte, Bong Go, Bato Dela Rosa, and Sara Duterte politically.
Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte
The Dutertes pose an existential threat to the Marcos-Romualdez family’s aspirations for the post-2028 era. A restored Duterte in 2028 constitute a clear and present danger to the restoration of the Marcos legacy. Conversely, the Marcos-Romualdez family poses an existential threat to the Dutertes. They are dismantling the Duterte era. Duterte lieutenants have become vulnerable targets.
The apparent retreat of the Dutertes serves as a testament to the entire government’s approach in dismantling the Duterte empire.
In the real world, despite occupying a larger digital universe, the Greens were only successful in halting their decline. Conversely, the issues plaguing the Reds and Greens have slightly benefited the Kakampinks, despite lacking a unifying narrative.
The imminent conclusion of the Marcos-Duterte era in 2028 presents a potential opportunity for a narrative that conveys a message of collective dissatisfaction regarding the political circus and the chaos it engenders.
The subsequent story arc could emphasize the attainment of a lasting peace and the promise of economic development through inclusivity and genuine unity.
