By Robert B. Roque, Jr.
Elections 2022 was so two years ago. Ask the Marcos-Duterte tandem, who are now unspeakably waves, if not oceans, apart.
Their promises of unity and progress gained unprecedented public trust that was more than enough to leave their rivals eating dust. It’s now 2024 and today, the numbers paint a grim picture of President Bongbong Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte.
With their animosity and distaste for each other punctuated in recent months, their trust ratings plunged: Marcos from 64% in July to 54% in December; and Duterte from 65% to 52% in the same period.
The rate of their steep decline signals not just dissatisfaction but an erosion of the very confidence which propelled them to power. Their failures are glaring. Inflation surges, job creation stagnates, and corruption festers unchecked.
Instead of addressing these crises, they’ve chosen to politicize every issue, empowering loyalists while deepening their own rift. This divide has paralyzed governance, making their administration a tragedy of squandered opportunities and deep political divisions
Marcos, surrounded by sycophants and self-centered opportunists, has shown little resolve in setting an example for his officials. His allies enjoy unchecked privileges while Filipinos bear the brunt of rising prices and dwindling opportunities.
Duterte, once seen as a formidable force, now grapples with three impeachment complaints over alleged misuse of confidential funds. Her incendiary statements and refusal to cooperate with investigations have only intensified calls for accountability.
Political analysts rightly describe 2024 as a year of missed reforms. Education, health, and labor sectors — critical for national progress — have taken a backseat to political theatrics.
And with mid-term elections coming to view, billions are wasted on patronage politics while systemic solutions are ignored. This misgovernance underscores not just incompetence but a fundamental lack of foresight.
The fallout between BBM and Inday Sara is inevitable. Duterte faces the specter of impeachment in 2025, with her dwindling allies in Congress unlikely to protect her.
Marcos, on the other hand, will see his allies’ fortunes falter in the mid-terms, as the electorate — once buoyed by Duterte’s star power — turns their wrath on his slate.
The message to the nation’s top two leaders is clear: trust is a privilege, not a guarantee. Both have failed to temper greed within their ranks, and both are on borrowed time. In 2025, it is so easy to depict this fractured duo as sitting ducks till their time in office expires in 2028.
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