Who’s destabilizing who?

Allies of Speaker Martin Romualdez have been busy explaining why Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Davao Congressman Isidro Ungab were stripped of their deputy speaker positions. Then they did the media rounds justifying their counter offensive against former president Rodrigo Duterte for attacking Congress. If that is the case, why were the same congressmen silent when Mayors for Good Governance openly talked about corruption in government, including Congress?

In case no one has noticed, all the attacks and offensive moves in this current political conflict have been initiated by the majority coalition led by Speaker Martin Romualdez. It was Congress that made an issue of the confidential funds, it was members of Congress that claimed that PGMA was organizing a coup plot on the Speakership, and it was Romualdez who crowed about their power over the purse and confidential funds.

All this time, Congresswoman Gloria Arroyo has repeatedly denied any such plot while Vice President Sara Duterte has chosen to peaceably and gracefully move away from the divisive issue of CIF. For his part, former president Digong Duterte has made it clear that his comments about Congress are as a result of the disrespectful manner that the house treated his daughter, the Vice President.

The sweeping offensive of the Romualdez camp against the Duterte’s, Arroyo etc., is what analysts refer to as First Blood, while others call it a panic move that may cost Martin Romualdez more than he bargained for. Most people now believe Martin Romualdez is no longer defending his position as Speaker but is aimed at becoming the next president of the Philippines.

The premature offensive against rivals will now force him to gain more power and get greater control of public funds, government offices, politicians both national and local as well as private sector support to keep his momentum for the long haul. In the mercenary world of Philippine politics, all that means billions of pesos, constantly checking on double dealing politicians, as well as creating and maintaining popularity among voters while selling himself as the investor’s choice.

But life and politics are not that simple.