Midterm Elections 2025: the coveted prize in the Yellowtards’ scramble to take down the Dutertes

In his Inquirer piece “And then there were none” published today, Manuel L Quezon III writes the obituary of the Dutertes as a political force. Question is, is he right or wrong? His basis is the inability of Duterte to muster crowds of people against the administration of President Bongbong Marcos.

Here is MLQ3 looks for parallels in the recent efforts to muster an outraged crowd to support the plight of embattled Pastor Apollo Quiboloy who is a close personal friend of former President Rodrigo Duterte…

It may be that the seemingly pitiful few—pitiful in the sense not only of their loyalty to their disgraced cult leader hiding in a bunker, but pitiful in the sense of the tens of thousands that were assumed to be at Quiboloy’s beck and call politically—gathered in Davao, at the Liwasang Bonifacio (where they withdrew after banging on the shut security gates at Chino Roces Bridge) and elsewhere, are doing so out of heartbroken devotion. But they are the last gasps of a phenomenon that has slowly been extinguished over the past two decades.

But is Duterte seeking that or merely his minions posturing for the public in aid of election in 2025? I think it’s too early to write the Dutertes off given his daughter Vice President Sara Duterte still leads the polling for 2028, even in the midst of the demolition job against her and her family. The piece is more than likely, a product of MLQ3’s wet dream; that he who wrought the most damage to the Yellowidiots and their leftist-militant allies would be left standing alone, ranged up the enemies he created, now including his erstwhile allies, the Marcoses. But see here’s the thing, the patriarch former president never thought of the Marcoses as his allies. Probably Bongbong’s sister Imee personally, but not the crown prince (now the king) himself.

What we have now in effect, is a political monarchy. It is not a republic. Critical thinkers can’t help but notice the lack of leadership, the gravitas and the political will that was all associated with Duterte (PRRD) when he was president. I believe PRRD is just biding his time and will come out once he feels that public opinion is ripe for the picking. Inday Sara is slowly making her break with the Marcoses but she is still not a chip off the old block. She is her own person. She’s now going through the biggest challenge in her political life which is of her own making.

The Dutertes don’t have the money and the power the administration has and their backs are against the wall. Their last stand will probably happen between October 2024 through May 2025. The midterm election has always been the anticipated referendum for any post-Marcos administration. We now have the Second Marcos Administration in place. It is nowhere near the first in terms of quality.

Duterte always said that the presidency is divine will. Perhaps the last chapter in the history of the Marcoses is not about their battle with those who forced them out in 1986, but those who paved the way for the realization of their goal to see the son follow in the footsteps of his father.

Ramon Ortoll

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