On clout, clowns, and the Bagong Pilipinas movement

The country is off to a dreadful start with two political dynasties publicly clashing, creating a rift in the quote-unquote unity among supposed allies: a not-so-Bagong Pilipinas scene.

The former president Rodrigo Duterte repeatedly called his successor a "drug addict" on January 28 after a protest rally in Davao City, following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s decision to allow the International Criminal Court in the country regarding Duterte's case of brutal campaign against illegal drugs. The dictator's son, however, cleared that while they may not prevent its visit, they will not help them in any way with their investigation because the government does not recognize its jurisdiction over its borders.

On the same day, Duterte exposed Marcos Jr., naming him as one of the persons involved in the narco-lists of top drug users, protectors, and smugglers. However, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency stated that Marcos was never in their National Drug Information System or NIDS.

The president, on the other hand, hits back with a "I think it's the fentanyl" in response to Duterte's allegations regarding his drug use. He emphasized how the former president has been under a strong and highly addictive painkiller that has serious side effects, urging the doctors to take good care of him.

The scene escalated with Davao City Mayor Baste Duterte, the former president's youngest son, calling for President Marcos' resignation if he does not have love and aspirations for the country. Imee Marcos told the media that the mayor reached out to him to apologize but was later slammed by Baste Duterte, calling her out and urging her to stop using his words for "drama."

More than the drug use allegations, what's more bothersome is the fact that these political actors have been throwing out shades in front of the Filipino people, gaining clout from both of their solid supporters. It was like a scene straight out of Philippine telenovelas people often watch in summer afternoons. The only exception is that the country's politics are starred by clowns who once held the theme "unity" while campaigning during national elections.

Stepping on a concrete land formed by their supporters, both dynasties showed nothing but an old series of events from past politicians, far from the Bagong Pilipinas narrative that the new administration launched in their kick-off rally last January 28. The rift between these huge political dynasties showed that the movement was nothing but another budget wasted for an advertisement, a rebranding without genuine reform to address the masses' sufferings.

While drug use is a heavy accusation, more serious conversations are needed to be addressed. Every day, Filipinos face far more problems that need to be offered effective and genuine solutions. The drama they have brought up themselves has been an ironic representation of the Philippines' messy and dirty politics.

While the Marcoses and Dutertes are in a game to prove who's more righteous and deserving of a seat, throwing rocks to stain the other's reputation, and continuously pulling all strings and ropes to win the never-ending tug of war, the Filipinos are still suffering from the worst public transportation system, inflation, poverty, corruption, exploitation.