Chessmaster: Why Sara Duterte is endorsing Imee

In a political chess move that has sent shockwaves from Laoag to Davao, Vice President Inday Sara Duterte has endorsed the re-election bid of Senator Imee Marcos.

Game Point: A Necessary Strategy

Never underestimate the Dutertes. They are master tacticians. Sara knows that not all of PDP’s candidates will win. Ergo, she will not have enough allies in the Senate to protect her from impeachment. This is why she spent so much time in The Hague. She had to consult with her father.

Upon returning home, look who Sara connected with first: Imee Marcos and Camille Villar.

Digong became close to Imee when they were both in Congress. She was the only governor who supported his presidential bid, contributing campaign funds, and delivering Ilocos Norte (the only province north of Pampanga where Duterte won). During and after the Duterte years, Imee remained solid for Digong.

Camille Villar is trickier. Her father Manny Villar is close with Digong. Cynthia enjoyed support for her legislation (Rice Tariffication Law), and Mark was instrumental to “Build, Build, Build”. The Villars played it safe by having Camille join Alyansa, but all three other family members could not hold their tongues when Digong got arrested. As of writing, Sara’s endorsement for Camille has not come out, but it’s only a matter of time. The Villars will deliver for the Dutertes.

Statistically, these two pro-Duterte candidates have the best chances of winning. If the likes of Bam Aquino, Kiko Pangilinan, Abby Binay, etc. win, then Sara will be impeached. Worse, walang mananagot sa pag-kidnap kay PRRD.

To bring out the big guns at the eleventh hour is straight out of Digong’s playbook. This is not just Sara’s decision-making. The old man is playing his hand, hatching calculated moves out of necessity.

Looking Ahead to 2028

To the DDS who remain confused, this is an all-out political war. There is no room for mistakes. If Sara gets impeached or is forced to resign, then the best chance to correct this government goes down the drain. This will be the end of the Duterte era. BBM and his cohort still hold the keys to the house, and look for new coalitions to form which will include newcomers (ex. Tulfo) and resurgent forces (ex. Liberal, Leftists).

For numbers nerds, the Imee endorsement makes even more sense. Over the last 3 years, Sara herself suffered dips in public support. According to a Pulse Asia survey conducted between November 26 and December 3, 2024, her trust rating declined to 49%, a significant drop from 61% in September. Her approval rating also decreased from 60% to 50% during the same period. If she wants to mount a strong presidential run in 2028, she needs the Ilokano support. Those who pay close attention to the North know who’s been busy in Pangasinan (Grace Poe, who raked in significant numbers against Digong in 2016 up there). Remember, the Dutertes are playing chess here.

Healing a Critical Wound

Recently, Sara also said that her friendship with Imee goes beyond politics. This reunion signals a willingness to bridge political divides. Let us not forget that many supporters (from both Marcos and Duterte sides) grew frustrated with their rift. Most of them are simply fed up with BBM’s government, as it fails to address the country’s ills. But amid all this, there are those who also blame Sara for not running for president in 2022. The mess we are in now is partly her fault.

Is this choice of moving forward with Imee a way to remedy this? Uniteam 2.0 (Agila version)?

Moreover, their alliance could be seen as the beginning of consolidating support in both Upper and Lower Houses – an unprecedented reset for a new-and-improved Duterte-led government in 2028? Now THAT is a game-changer. If surviving impeachment is defense, this is the offensive retort.

Protecting the Duterte Legacy

Look even further into the horizon, beyond Sara’s threat of impeachment and the 2028 elections. Could the Dutertes be looking to reframe the narrative around their political brand? By demonstrating a capacity for strategic alliances and political pragmatism, they hold the potential of appealing to a broader supporter base – as Filipinos here and abroad seek stability in a fast-changing, economically challenged world.

If Sara is anything like her father, she should not just be willing to fight, but she should also be ready to transform. Survival is only the first step.