Let’s be clear: Filipino votes will be wasted on Duterte’s police chief Bato dela Rosa and his official photobomber Bong Go.
Sara Duterte herself hinted that the two may one day face prosecution under international law for their roles in Duterte’s brutal drug war.
But what if there’s more to these men than meets the eye?
In recent months, reports have surfaced of a concerted online campaign, backed by tens of thousands of social media accounts—many of them suspiciously automated or coordinated—boosting their political messages.
In a digital age where influence can be manipulated from behind the scenes, one can’t help but ask: are these men truly acting in the best interest of the Philippines, or are they part of a larger, more insidious strategy?
The surge in online support could be seen as an effort to shape public opinion for candidates whose political ambitions might serve foreign interests, rather than those of the Filipino people.
While we won’t jump to conclusions, the possibility of their being “Manchurian candidates”—figures whose actions are shaped by external forces—becomes more troubling when viewed against the backdrop of these tactics.
Whether they like it or not, Bato and Bong Go are tied to the legacy of a presidency that blurred the lines between domestic leadership and international influence.
And if these men—like their boss—ever end up under the scrutiny of the International Criminal Court (ICC), will we then wonder if Filipino votes were truly worth the risk of handing over power to individuals whose loyalties may not lie with the nation?
Isn’t it wiser, at this point, to seek leaders who haven’t been compromised by a failed past or by external forces seeking to influence our political landscape?
The Filipino people deserve leaders who are truly committed to serving the nation’s best interests, not candidates whose motivations may be tied to distant, hidden agendas.
Indeed we “dasurv” better.
