Former president Rodrigo Roa Duterte made it very clear: he supports President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Junior but will not keep silent when he or any of his supporters see “anomalies.” Duterte made the statement during a PDP-Laban convention.

By the way, it seems like the political landscape is somewhat changing, with the Liberals electing as its leader, Albay Congressman Edcel Lagman, replacing former senator Kiko Pangilinan. Pangilinan will stay as chairman of one of the country’s oldest political parties.

Lagman says the party will rise from the ashes of the 2021 elections. People expect a stronger Liberal by the mid-term elections. The party will be consistent with its DNA–a party that will fight against the twin evils of repression and oppression.

Curiously, both parties, whose founders were members of the traditional anti-Marcos camp, announced these changes a day after another. Lagman’s brother, Felimon, used to head the dreaded assassination squad of the NPA-CPP during the Martial law period, while former Senator Aquilino Pimentel founded the PDP-Laban with former senator Benigno S. Aquino Jr. is the father of now PDP stalwart Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III. The mother of Duterte, by the way, was an avid oppositionist in Davao.

Question: Are we seeing a possible coalition with formerly defunct anti-Marcos opposition forces soon? Maybe. Or maybe not.

Question 2: why these early pronouncements? The 100-day honeymoon period for PBBM is just a few days short, and the country is facing tremendous economic challenges. Politics is never a solution to economic woes, or is it?

Question 3: If the truth is behind all these, indicating, plans of heightening political opposition against PBBM, will this administration be strong enough to repel these moves?

This early, the administration may be considered “imploding” after several interest groups claiming to have the best ear of the President exposed the major cracks in the once vaunted Marcos engine. One familiar with history would surely say that these conditions mimic the same conditions Marcos senior found himself and his family in several decades ago. Marcos senior was overly confident of his political clout and blindsided by the moves of those groups who hated his guts.

Some think the opposition took almost fourteen years before it finally had the strength to defeat the former dictator Marcos. Now, with these groups gaining roots for more than 30 years, they are much stronger and more confident than their contemporaries in the anti-martial law fight. If talks are indeed serious, the possibility of a destabilized atmosphere looms. Inter-elite fighting will continue, particularly since the 5 trillion peso budget has already passed. With these secured, there is no more reason not to break politically and not to cause noise on how this country is being managed. Some believe this event would be easier to accomplish than others think.

If you ask me, it is better for all forces of our society to rally behind our country’s economic recovery. The poor, believe me, are suffering more pain now than they experienced during the Duterte years. Set aside politics first, and mind how we can effectively solve the economic morass we are in. Our government needs all the help it can get.

Who will benefit from a destabilized atmosphere? Yes, you heard me–syndicates and corrupted Filipinos. They will surely take advantage of this weakening of the political centers and will have their way, again, much to the dismay of the poor Filipinos. Those who thrive under destabilized socio-economic and political landscapes are often interested in exploiting public funds. They use these destabilizations to soften the government and get what they want.

Marcos Junior should not be complacent. ONe may have plenty of political capital to spare, yet one must do it judiciously. Otherwise, the survival rate will remain highly doubtful, to say the least.