Sara meets Leni: A divided Pink Movement? 

When citizens treat politicians like idols and saints, all manner of critics with any form of critique—no matter how justified and sound—are automatically considered villains. For fanaticism knows neither reason nor public interest, but only mindless loyalty beyond facts, introspection, and moral clarity. This singular tragedy of Philippine politics, which permeates the entire political spectrum, was fully on display in recent days.

The surprising meeting between current Vice President Sara Duterte and former vice president Leni Robredo sent shockwaves across the political landscape. The announcement seemingly came out of nowhere. And it inevitably generated tremendous controversy, backlash, and counterresponses from concerned netizens and passionate partisans.

To begin with, countless folks were simply confounded. After all, the whole Duterte dynasty constantly assailed Robredo throughout her tenure in office and, at times, even questioned her mandate and legitimate victory over Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in the 2016 election. It was also the Rodrigo Duterte presidency that oversaw the dénouement of the Marcos political rehabilitation project by allowing the remains of the late dictator to be buried among our national heroes.

More fundamentally, Sara is the scion of a clan that has stood for everything that contradicts the core principles of what the Robredo brand stands for. This is the same family that has overseen widespread extrajudicial killings; unspeakable torment of top opposition leaders like former senator Leila de Lima; a defeatist silence and apologia to China over the West Philippine Sea disputes, and unfathomable fiddling with public and confidential funds.

But, dear readers, just as crucial was the timing of the meeting: The Dutertes are on the ropes! All key members of the notorious dynasty are facing serious charges by various bodies and, soon, even courts. The International Criminal Court will likely issue warrants of arrest against top Duterte era officials in the near future. Sara’s trust ratings are down. Surveys show that she is increasingly trailing Sen. Raffy Tulfo in pre-2028 presidential election polls. If anything, surveys also show that the Dutertes might struggle to get even a single member of their family into the Senate next year.

In fact, Sara is facing the real and present danger of impeachment for her alleged abuses during her controversial and singularly incompetent tenure as the education secretary. In short, there is a reason why her office insisted that they were “not desperate nor distressed” when they arranged a meeting with the former vice president, who is not only eyeing a return to public office, but is also seen as the de facto leader of the so-called “Pink Movement,” which won more than 15 million votes in the 2022 elections.

Fortunately, Robredo made it clear that the supposedly “casual” meeting was politically “neutral”—as in taking place within the context of a broader religious cultural fiesta in her hometown. And I’m sure—knowing the kindness of her heart and the decency at the core of her being—the former vice president was just trying to be gracious and polite to guests that apparently, included a number of senatorial candidates clearly seeking any kind of political mileage.

But rabid supporters were quick to vilify, demonize, and gaslight anyone who dared question either the wisdom or the timing of the “casual” meeting. Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, who has risked his life to expose the Dutertes, has been constantly trolled and tormented by mindless partisans, who were quick to “apologist-tag” him or anyone criticizing their idol. After all, is anyone really obliged to meet the Dutertes, especially at this juncture?

The ugly episode has exposed fault lines within the genuine opposition movement which, hitherto, was watching the disintegration of the Marcos-Duterte “UniTeam” with exquisite relish. The genuine opposition has failed to produce a proper “post-mortem” on its election setbacks in the recent past. Worse, it has not corralled its rabid and toxic partisans, who are alienating everyone by eagerly vilifying anyone—including those who have valiantly resisted the Duterte debacles and abuses—who dares to question their mythos and methods.

No one is above criticism. And what we need is to end this toxic and puerile culture of partisanship if the genuine opposition is to come back stronger than ever, after the dust settles on the carapace of the ongoing dynastic civil war.

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rheydarian@inquirer.com.ph