By Philip M. Lustre Jr.
FEELING
the public rejection of two political initiatives to install an authoritarian
regime, the Duterte administration is revving up the third initiative to stay
in power beyond 2022.
The
plan calls for the strengthening of the regional political party Hugpong into a
national political party and the launching of the candidacy for senator of
Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, who is being regarded as heir apparent of his
father, Rodrigo Duterte.
The
plan also calls for a strong finish for Sara in the senatorial race. If she
lands on the first three slots, she could be expected to be the
presidential candidate in 2022.
According
to Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, a bitter critic of the Duterte government, Dutete
and his minions could hardly create a dent in the first two initiatives,
prompting them to launch “Plan C” as the ultimate way to perpetuate the
Dutertes in power beyond 2022.
“Plan
A” called for what Duterte described as a “revolutionary government” that would
supplant the 1987 Constitution and establish an authoritarian government led by
no less than Duterte.
The
Armed Forces flatly rejected it. Had Duterte resorted to it, Vice President
could have been sworn as president.
Duterte,
through his supporters, attempted to create a condition to actualize it. They
held the Nov. 30, 2017 rallies in at least 12 cities nationwide to drumbeat public
support. But only a handful showed up in each of the public rallies, creating
the perception that it had no public support.
This
year, Duterte has activated “Plan B,” when he had created a 22-man consultative
constitutional committee to draft the proposed shift to a federal form of
government.
The
so-called “Digong Constitution” has been so scandalously drafted, as it
contains transitory provisions where, after dividing the country into 18 federated states, Duterete would reign as dictator, who would enjoy executive,
legislative, and judicial powers to keep the 18 states together.
It
is not gaining ground. Actually, it is destined to the garbage bin of history.
Even Duterte does not appear enthusiastic in a proposed constitution drafted by
guys mostly from Mindanao. The Senate and his economic managers are among those opposing it.
The remaining political initiative is to have Sara Duterte elected as senator
and finally, as the successor to his father. This is most apparent if she lands
as one of the first three senators next year.
The
father and daughter tandem has initiated it by replacing Leon Alvarez with
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as speaker. They have to firm up an alliance with
Arroyo to generate strength in Luzon and the Visayas.
They
appear bent to destroy PDP-Laban as the dominant political party and replace it
with Hugpong, which is now derisively called "Hukbo ng mga Ulupong" by its critics.
How they could achieve Plan C remains to be seen.
