The words Imee used in the political ad to attack the Marcos administration officials could also apply to the Dutertes and their minions, who are facing the same criticisms and more serious allegations of corruption, drug trafficking and crimes against humanity.
Gutter talk, name-calling and other forms of abusive behavior are resorted to only when one runs out of substantive arguments to shift focus from the issues.
Perhaps Imee and Sara deserve each other. Both failed to be amply rewarded for their contributions to Bongbong's election victory in 2022. In the midterms, the president and his allies have become their adversaries.
What could have gone wrong? With less than a month into the May 12 polls, can Imee still recover from her apparent missteps in the past months?
Roque will have to show more of his antics to the Duterte supporters, who still laugh at his clowning, to be relevant. But he will have a long difficult journey to redeem himself, if at all.
Faced with tough challenges even before the trial begins, the Duterte camp is working to win the former president's case in the streets rather than through the legal channels, which they have long been trying to besmirch through black propaganda and other forms of disinformation.
The disinformation game plan now appears to have shifted to undermining the ICC, linking it to the leftist groups in the Philippines, and questioning its objectivity to destroy its credibility.
"Okay na 'to" or "pwede na" should never be a consideration, particularly in positions that allocate trillions of pesos in public funds, formulate policies and programs, and implement these supposedly for the majority of Filipinos, not for their partisan and personal interests.
Congress is not a charitable institution to distribute ayuda or dole-outs, guarantee letters, or recommendations for employment. Nor is it an institution for lawbreakers or those who'd twist the definition of political dynasty to justify the existence of multiple family members in public office.
Can rabid Duterte defenders such as De la Rosa and another reelectionist senator, Bong Go, convincingly shed their partisanship and be impartial in deciding to either acquit or convict the vice president?
