‘Mansanas sa kili-kili’

What a difference a few years make. From the most powerful and most feared family in our country, the Dutertes have become the most tormented and most ridiculed kin of politicians in our islands.

Former president Rodrigo Duterte is hounded with threats of government cooperation with the International Criminal Court (ICC) in its quest to prosecute the leaders responsible for the thousands of killings during the Duterte administration’s bloody drug war. Everyone expects that if the ICC proceedings push through, the former president would be one of the most likely principal accused. Vice President Sara Duterte stands to be formally scrutinized on how she spent her hundreds of millions of confidential funds as vice president and as former education secretary. The Commission on Audit has been subpoenaed to produce the records of how VP Sara spent those confidential funds. On top of that, VP Sara’s potential inclusion as an accused in the ICC prosecution hangs over her head, because of her alleged complicity in the drug war killings while she was Davao City’s local chief executive.

Incumbent Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte’s police forces have been relieved and replaced en masse because of findings that police blotters were doctored to falsely project that the city is peaceful. Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte has been sued for his alleged involvement in a P6.4-billion worth of “shabu” shipment seized in Valenzuela City during his father’s term. These are just some of the many anomalies now being leveled against Duterte family members.

What must be infuriating for the Dutertes is to wake up to the realization that politicians who used to be their allies and who immensely benefitted during their rule, have turned against them and even becoming their vocal critics. Check the names of politicians who were supportive of the Dutertes during their reign, and you will find names who are now openly supportive of the investigations against the Dutertes on their involvement in the violent drug war, Philippine offshore gaming operators’ issues, and corruption controversies. For sure, the Dutertes knew all along that the loyalty of the endemic breed of politicians in our islands lies exclusively in the Office of the President, and not in the person of the president. Whoever occupies Malacañan Palace wields the keys to pork barrel and confidential funds and whoever vacates the Palace is stripped of powers over those funds. But the feeling of betrayal must still be extremely enraging for the Duterte family.

One affliction of the Dutertes and their minions is that they believe in the hubris that they continue to wield powers equal to or even greater than those wielded by the current Palace occupant. They think, talk, and act as if they still have control over sovereign powers. They make demands on the ruling administration, and expect their complete wish list to be served on a silver platter. When their wishes are not granted fully, they curse and hurl accusations like spoiled brats, or they act as if they hold the current administration by the balls, or that the current government owes them demandable and enforceable debts of gratitude.

Another affliction of the Duterte camp is that they think that they can posture as an authentic opposition force and accordingly generate support from the people who have genuine gripes against the current dispensation. No matter how genuine the issues they espouse, however, their intentions are glaringly inauthentic. And this is exposed by the solution they offer to the issues: for President Marcos to step down, and for VP Sara to take over as president. To many, that’s like jumping out of the frying pan into the fire.

Unfortunately for the Duterte camp, three major political forces find common ground in considering the Dutertes as a shared enemy. These are the Marcos loyalists, the so-called “dilawans” or “pinklawans,” and the leftist movement. These are assertive political forces and, combined with the vast powers and resources wielded by those occupying Malacañang, they can effectively counterbalance whatever power posturing of the Duterte forces.

Still another affliction of the Duterte camp is that they’re blind to the bigger motes in their eyes when they accuse the current administration of having dirt in their eyes. They’re oblivious to the fact that whatever corruption and irregularities they accuse the current administration of, they have been guilty of greater anomalies and wrongdoings during their term.

Obviously, the Dutertes and their underlings have not heard of the words of wisdom of politicians of yore: “Hindi ka pwedeng sumuntok kung may mansanas ka sa kili-kili.” (You cannot throw a punch if you have apples in your armpits).

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