Politics at the crossroads (2)

Perry Diaz .

Conclusion

CAN President Duterte trust Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo? Will Gloria remain loyal to Duterte? Which reminds me of the legendary Mafia gangster, Charlie “Lucky” Luciano. Luciano engineered the fall of his first boss, Giuseppe Masseria, and then swore allegiance to his boss’s rival, Salvatore Maranzano. A few months later, Luciano engineered the fall of Maranzano. He then convened the heads of the five Mafia families in New York. He suggested that they form a “national commission” to rule over Mafia business. The capos agreed and they elected Luciano as the Chairman of the Commission, the capo di tutti capi (boss of all bosses) or the “Godfather.” Apparently afflicted with the “Lucky Luciano Syndrome,” one wonders whom would she topple next?

Speculation is rife that Duterte will run for president and pick former senator Bongbong Marcos as his running mate in 2022 under the new federal constitution. However, given the close political and personal relationship between Duterte and Gloria, Duterte might decide to partner with Gloria instead. But knowing what had happened to his good friend Erap, Duterte might want to keep Gloria at a safe distance for his own preservation. But Gloria has to watch out for Davao Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio. If Sara could help Gloria get the speakership, she could also topple Gloria from her perch.

Sara has shown that she can play hardball politics. She manifested her appetite for power when she formed HNP. But to what end? Could HNP be her vehicle to advance her political ambitions? She could run for Regional Governor of the federated government of her bailiwick in Davao or use it as a springboard to run for a congressional seat in the House of Representatives. She can then challenge Gloria for the speakership in 2022. Or she can run for Regional Senator and position herself to become Senate President. Either way, she would cross the threshold into national politics, which is a totally different ballgame.

But what about the Marcoses who have been salivating for a comeback to power? Would Bongbong settle for Duterte’s vice-president? But where else would he go? Would he settle for a “second in command” role? Unless he sets his sights higher, which could put him politically at odds with his older sister Imee Marcos, who is presumed to be eyeing the Senate presidency or Speakership. Remember, “Politics is thicker than blood.” Imee has been preparing to go national since Bongbong lost the vice-presidency to Leni Robredo by a slim margin. Bongbong filed a protest before the Supreme Court but it could be rendered moot and academic if the new federal constitution were approved. And that would throw him into oblivion. Ugh!

Recent reports say that Imee and Sara have formed an informal alliance or should I say, unholy alliance? But the question is: Who between the two of them would take the top billing and who would play second fiddle to the other? This could cause their unholy alliance to fall apart. Tough question indeed and only time will tell.

With all these ambitious hard-hitting and headstrong women – Gloria Arroyo, Sara Duterte-Carpio, and Imee Marcos — positioning themselves in the power game, Philippine politics would never be the same again. Indeed, Philippine politics is now at a crossroads.

E-mail: PerryDiaz@gmail.com