By Artchil B. Fernandez
The current bardagulan between Du30 and Pacquiao is a prelude to the 2022 election. It is an indication the 2022 fever has already infected the country’s body politic.
Du30 and Pacquiao, chair and president respectively of the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), had been engaged in a proxy war since March but now the tiff between them has become open and direct. The Du30-Pacquiao bardagulan is providing Filipinos with cheap amusement and entertainment amid the rampaging of a deadly virus. Isn’t it an embarrassment to the ruling party that its top leaders are bickering instead of being united? (By the way, if DDS googles the history of PDP-Laban, they are in for the shock of their lives).
This week, Du30 rebuked Pacquiao for his previous comments on his foreign policy, particularly on the issue of the territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea. He called Pacquiao shallow and told him to study the matter first.
The territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea was at the center stage of national discourse last month due to Du30’s controversial statements on the issue. He disparaged and belittled the historic legal victory of the Philippines over China at the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague. PCA ruling invalidated China’s nine-dash-line and upheld the territorial claim of the Philippines.
Filipinos were outraged when Du30 called the historic legal and moral win of the Philippines a mere scrap of paper he can throw away in the garbage can. He also branded the victory “meaningless” embracing the position of China on the issue. Filipinos were aghast, appalled, and furious that the leader of the country is acting like an agent of a foreign power that is stealing the territory of the country.
Pacquiao surprised the nation when he joined the national discourse, critical of Du30’s apparently traitorous stance. “It’s tiring because it’s different from the beginning. We heard what he said before the elections as he was campaigning that he was going to ride a jet ski carrying the Philippine flag to the Spratlys, so of course, I felt it in my heart to vote for him because that’s the kind of president that we need; someone who will fight for our country,” a visibly disappointed Pacquiao publicly stated.
This statement of Pacquiao did not escape Du30’s attention who is very sensitive to public comments on his actions. He publicly scolded Pacquiao on foreign policy, delivering another straight jab to the Pacman. “It’s about foreign policy. I would not want to degrade him but next time he should, mag-aral ka muna ng husto bago pumasok. Apparently, this guy has shallow knowledge.” Earlier, Du30 delivered a deadly blow to Pacquiao’s leadership in the PDP-Laban when he backed Energy Secretary and PDP-Laban vice-chairman Alfonso Cusi who called for a party national council assembly despite the vigorous objection of Pacquiao.
Immediately Pacquiao counter-punched, hitting back at Du30. “I respect the President’s opinion but humbly disagree with his assessment of my understanding of foreign policy. I am a Filipino voicing out what needs to be said in defense of what has been adjudicated as rightfully ours,” Pacquiao answered back. “I regret that the President was misinformed regarding my statement on the West Philippine Sea issue. I firmly believe that my statement reflects the sentiment of the majority of the Filipinos, that we should stand strong in protecting our sovereign rights while pursuing a peaceful and diplomatic solution to the dispute,” he further elaborated. Though respectful, Pacquiao is publicly and openly clashing with Du30 on an important issue that could impact the outcome of the 2022 presidential election.
The Du30-Pacquiao bardagulan is unthinkable a few months back. In the last five years, Pacquiao was a staunch ally and defender of Du30. A born-again convert, Pacquiao was silent on the mass slaughter of thousands of suspected drug addicts/pushers and in some instances even defended the bloody and gory “war against illegal drugs.” He was rewarded for his loyalty by being elevated to the post of party president despite being a newbie.
What triggered the spat between the erstwhile allies? Certainly, Du30 and Pacquiao are not running for the first Bardagulan Awards on Twitter. Their bardagulan is foreplay to the 2022 elections. Pacquiao made no secret of his presidential ambition. He thought PDP-Laban is the perfect vehicle that will carry him to the pinnacle of power.
But it is not only Pacquiao who is obsessed with the 2022 election. Du30 has a higher stake in the 2022 electoral battle. An opposition victory is his biggest nightmare and he is definitely losing sleep over the thought. He must ensure his successor will protect him from being held accountable for his grave abuses as president especially the butcher of thousands in the horrific and gruesome “drugs war.”
The only way for Du30 to secure himself is to have a successor who is obliged to protect him at all costs. Only two persons will certainly do this – his daughter Sara and his personal assistant moonlighting as a senator, Bong Go. Either of them must run and win the presidency if Du30 wants to retire peacefully.
Pacquiao has no place in the political calculus of Du30 especially his presidential aspirations. This is made crystal clear to Pacquiao after he was left out in the cold in the national council assembly of the party he is president. If Pacquiao wants to be president in 2022, his break with Du30 is inevitable. Otherwise, he has to forget his presidential ambition and remain an acolyte of Du30.
Bardagulan of Du30 and Pacquiao is the beginning of the end of their alliance. Once the alignment of forces becomes clear in the next two months, the sparring between them will worsen. The only way to prevent this is for Pacquiao to give up his dream of being president in 2022. Will Pacquiao do this? How the bardagulan will play out is the clue.
