So will she or won’t she? Be impeached, that is.
The rumor mills have been churning endlessly, and Vice President Sara Duterte herself is helping pour fuel on the fire by continuing to raise the dire possibility of her impeachment. In multiple broadsides versus those she accuses to be her enemies, Sara has publicly ventilated the specter of impeachment proceedings filed against her by certain political enemies.
Just the other day, she responded to an ambush interview that these current budget hearings were just a rehearsal for a forthcoming impeachment. The persistent drilling by lawmakers as to how she spent her budget as Vice President in previous years was “practice,” and “(making) a case for impeachment.”
She did vent her impeachment concerns at a previous speech to the Congressional budget committee, the latest in her constant clashes with the overseers. After showing up in the capacity of a resource person, Sara then refused to take the oath of a witness, and flounced out. An eager press corps awaited to slurp her forthcoming diatribe.
One could think that Sara almost welcomes the filing of this impeachment case. She’s been so flippant about it. Nary a trace of fear or nervousness. The interviews she has given are doing their job of cushioning the blow when it comes, priming the populace for its eventuality, and letting them get used to its possibility. Inured, even. The shock value has been significantly diminished.
Perhaps she already has her strategy laid out if the case is filed - what she would do, what she would say. Which lawyers to hire. Which publicists to employ. Or perhaps, that team is in fact already assembled and raring to go, with press kits ready and talking points all sorted out. The bullets are primed, and they’re ready to come out blazing (metaphorically, of course.). Those little details have already been sorted out.
On to more crucial details. What outfit to wear, what make-up artist to employ. Jewelry, maybe? Nothing too ostentatious, of course. Impeachment proceedings are very serious, you know. Except perhaps, to one who isn’t going to suffer any impact from it. And Sara Duterte seems to fit the bill. (Gown)
For what is the use of the vice presidency to Sara? It’s no longer adding to her national stature (if it ever did). If there is no forthcoming budget to be allotted to her office by a vociferous Congress, then there is no kitty. Her post as Education Secretary might have offered more lucrative potential, but that is gone as well. So why remain as VP?
The legislative proceedings over the budget are just giving more opportunities for the Dutertes to be attacked. Her reputation is getting a hit, and the more hits, the more her electability is risked. (Although, of course, she has denied she will run.). And so impeachment might be a welcome relief from this pesky oversight. In fact, it might make her a martyr. And gosh, do we Filipinos love martyrs.
In the political calculus, being impeached (specially without more bombshell evidence like leaked sex video tapes) might probably just add sympathetic softies to her base. So she gains from an impeachment. And Sara unbound is Sara freed to operate as she wishes, with no one to watch her comings and goings. Do the Marcoses really want this?
On the other hand, a Sara impeached means the ascension of Senate President Chiz Escudero to her post. That would be a great springboard for his own candidacy as President (if and when the Marcoses anoint him as their path to the future.). Tough call to make.
Might leaving Sara high and dry as VP be the more prudent course of action? No impeachment, just leave her in a national position, but with no funds? A VP with no official duties, and only meaningless social appearances to lend luster to her credentials? Toothless and penniless. One could almost feel pity. Except she still remains second in line in case anything does happen to the President.
First Lady Liza Marcos won’t exactly be sleeping soundly in her frilled bedroom.