IT WASN’T a grand proclamation, but it struck a nerve.
On Bombo Radyo, Iloilo-based political law professor and arbitration expert Atty. Joenar Pueblo voiced what many have sensed but few dared say out loud: “The lame duck effect is now being felt by the Marcos camp.”
The fourth year of a six-year term is where the country begins squinting toward the future, sizing up legacies, successors, and sins. While Marcos Jr. once enjoyed a curious immunity from midterm irrelevance, the tides have started to turn. And not because of numbers or noise—but because of posture, principles, and trust. The kind of trust that, when lost, no presidential decree can restore.
Political analyst Richard Heydarian, in his usual sharp commentary, warned that BBM still commands enough capital to define a legacy—but only if he builds a coalition rooted in integrity, not convenience. It’s a tempting proposition. But in a political culture where family names often matter more than platforms, walking that road is less about clout and more about courage. And time is not on his side.
Let’s not sugarcoat it: the 2028 presidential race is already simmering. Names are floating in talk shows, tricycles, and TikToks. Duterte loyalists are circling back. Reformists are regrouping. The Left is strategizing. And BBM? Whether he likes it or not, he will be remembered not just by how he governed—but by who he empowered. Because in Philippine politics, who you keep in your corner often speaks louder than your speeches.
If he doesn’t choose a team with a credible moral compass, he risks being remembered as the man who stayed too long at the wrong table. And as someone once told me during my student activism days: “If you dine with crooks, people assume you’re part of the heist—even if you just came for dessert.”
The odd thing is, Marcos Jr. still has leverage. His party remains dominant. His economic team touts growth numbers that, while imperfect, hold steady against regional peers. He has resources. He has reach. But here’s the kicker: power without purpose is noise, and credibility without consistency fades. Just ask any teacher—you can hold the mic, but lose the class.
To be fair, the President has taken some bold steps. The handover of Rodrigo Duterte to the International Criminal Court, however polarizing, hinted at a pivot away from impunity. Appointing General Nicholas Torre III—widely respected for institutional integrity—signaled a potential crack in old-school patronage. But it’s hard to celebrate breadcrumbs when the table still holds rotten leftovers. Allegations of customs harassment persist. Inflation quietly creeps. And some of the President’s closest allies aren’t exactly Boy Scouts.
It’s no wonder that even those in the middle—neither yellow nor red—are starting to ask: What is the real direction here? Because right now, the path feels more like a survival dance than a national roadmap. (To be continued)/PN
