Sen. Imee Marcos, the President’s sister, wants to be the captain of her fate,not necessarily the master of her soul, as the poet William Ernest Henley penned in his piece the “Invictus”.
The reelecting senator, known for her strong will and stubbornness. made this clear when she announced she was leaving the Administration slate and be an independent candidate instead. She professes love for her brother, always thicker than water even in politics.
Her decision, she said, was meant to spare him from the toxin and cruelty of some. Or as described by Hamlet as “ the slings and arrows” of an outrageous fortune. This fortune otherwise known as the presidency is sometimes viewed in the pejorative. The senator didn’t mean she’s unconquerable; she was obviously hopeful.
On the other hand, she was also conciliatory. If two friends are at odds, she said in analogy to explain , she will not side with one and leave the other in a lurch. She could be wrongfully seen as straddling two boats in the river, so what, but she’s only hoping the boat will meet along the way.
The late Pampanga Gov. Bren Z. Guiao would usually describe such attitude as congenitally optimistic.
Imee’s political decision came against the backdrop of a series of unpleasant political developments for the longest time. From the start, despite rumors, President Bongbong Marcos had repeatedly, persistently denied the Marcos-Duterte unity was already on the ropes.
The death knell was sounded when Vice President Sara Duterte did not attend PBBM’s third SONA and declared herself the designated survivor if something bad happened to the president or his other Constitutional successor, which had many people dismayed, even found it unethical. The Veep subsequently quit the Cabinet as secretary of education.
In the wake of the 2,000 police siege of the compound of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, the vice president sought forgiveness from his members in asking their votes for PBBM in 2020. He vowed “ never again” and bared she was no longer in speaking terms with PBBM.
The budget of the Office of the Vice President was reduced by more than half, the Veep budget spending was scrutinized, her overspending exposed and her attitude in the hearing branded as arrogant. From out of the woodwork, an executive official bared nine envelopes she received with P 50,000 each during a four-committee House hearing known as Quadcom. Bribery is a harsh word, the official said, but lawmakers felt the medium was the message.
The vice president was certain there is a plan to cook the goose. Former senator Antonio Trillanes believes it’s not if but when. He said that there are at least 20 more grounds for the vice president’s impeachment. The nine envelopes expose is only one of them.
In the meantime, other bad news are being uncovered by the Quadcom hearings. Three Chinese nationals believed to be drug-lords were killed in the Davao Penal Colony by policemen during the Duterte war on drugs. The cops who made the expose in linking the former president’s imprimatur in the crime. The House hearing uncovered the murder of a police general and former board secretary of the Philippine charity Sweepstakes Office during the Duterte Administration.Police officials known to be close to the former president were tagged as masterminds
The Philippine National Police has reopened an investigation of the murder case. No less than former PNP chief and senator Ping Lacson was outraged by the death of the general. Lacson is an independent candidate and wants to see justice in his fellow PMAyer’s assassination case.
Duterte’s infamous spokesperson lawyer Harry Roque is being hunted by the Senate for failing to submit documents to support the enormous increase in his wealth. Roque has since appealed his Senate problem before the Supreme Court while in hiding.
There is momentary lull in the probes while the House is not session. When the session resumes, more bad news are expected to surface like warts. As Napoleon, morality will again be on the heavier side of the artillery.
Analysts say the bad news involving the Duterte camp will eventually toll a high price on the party’s senatorial slate.Reelectionist Senator Bato Dela Rosa is seen as a possible casualty. Another Reelectionist Bong Go may not suffer the cost though. Otherwise, the future for the other bets looks dim, if not bleak.
” And yet the menace of the years finds, and will find, me” Henley concluded.
President Duterte and his allies remain unfazed by the growing menace about their reputation. Dela Rosa has been dismissive of the latest revelations as merely a demolition job. But he and the former president are unsettled that the InternationaL Criminal Court (ICC) may eventually have its way on the charge of crime against inhumanity . the signs in that direction seem indicative if not persuasive.
Sen. Imee, like his brother-president and another Duterte ally, former Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, may look at the bright side , they are not the captains of other politicians fate, much less their souls.
The menace of the years, as the poem goes, may still find them. PBBM knew that whereof he swore when he became president in 2020 under the Constitution. He took an oath to do justice to everyone and consecrate himself to the service of the nation.
The sister-senator may not have performed the same oath but is equally under the rubric of public office is a public trust. Regardless, if she chooses to be an Administration senator or not. The distinction is merely another word for winning which, in politics, is everything if not the only thing.
