Bong vs Bongbong vs Ping vs Pacman vs Isko vs Leni: Duterte's unprecedented tirade against Marcos Jr.

BONGBONG vs Bong vs PING vs PACMAN vs ISKO vs Leni: These are the nicknames of leading presidential candidates in the upcoming Philippine presidential elections. They are former Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr, Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" T. Go, Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson, Senator Emmanuel "Pacman" Pacquiao, Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko" Moreno Domagoso, and Vice President (VP) Maria Leonor "Leni" Robredo.

'DIGONG' LASHES OUT AT BONGBONG & LENI: On Sunday, Philippine President Rodrigo "Digong" Duterte has launched an unprecedented verbal attack on Sunday against presidential aspirants Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. (right), a known long-time an ally, as well as Vice President Maria Leonora "Leni" Robredo — claiming them to be both “pro-communists”. Duterte is supporting his long-time ally, Senator Christopher "Bong" Go (second from right). The later confirmed his presidential run on Monday, November 15, 2021, the last day of filing of candidacy by substitutions.

CHAOTIC SUBSTITUTIONS: Last month, Bongbong and Leni had already declared their run for presidency and formally filed their certificate of candidacy with the Commission on Elections (Comelec). Two days ago, Senator Bong Go backed out of the vice presidential race, and filed his candidacy for president via substitution. Initially, it was announced that Bong Go's VP running mate will be President Duterte. The president, known for his so-called “mind-games”, earlier stated he will retire from politics, but then apparently changed his mind. His declaration of a VP run created confusion — it would have placed him on a collision course with daughter Sara "Inday" Duterte-Carpio, who is now running for VP, also via substitution. On Monday, the final deadline of submission of candidacy, Duterte's allies said the strongman, finally, will run for a Senate seat instead, also via substitution.

ALLIES NO LONGER? Duterte's recent tirade, in particular against Marcos Jr., adds new political puzzle in the Asian country known for its unpredictable electoral process dominated by families. Until recently, the Marcoses and Dutertes were seen to belong to the same camp — against the reforms represented by “people power” revolt that toppled the Marcos dictatorship in 1986.

SERIOUS OR JUST A JOKE?: It is not known whether Duterte, a tough-talking, foul-mouthed former public prosecutor who served as undefeated Davao City mayor, was only joking or was serious. Duterte has portrayed himself as an anti-dynasty, anti-oligarch leader. He himself is the son of a former Davao governor and is related to a Marcos-era political clan, the Duranos of Danao City in Cebu. Presidential hopeful Ferdinand Marcos Jr, also known as BBM, pose with supporters.

SERIOUS CHARGE: The Philippine president made the claim in an interview with pro-Duterte vlogger Byron Cristobal that aired on his Youtube channel early Sunday. Duterte explained his stand: “Pero ‘yang pagtakbo ni Marcos, sasabihin ko ang rason kung bakit hindi ako makasuporta sa kanya at kung bakit na maging — kagaya kay Leni, mga pro- ano ‘yan — diyan nga ako takot. Mga pro-communist ‘yan,” he said. (“The candidacy of Marcos, I’ll tell you, the reason why I do not support him and why — like Leni, they are pro — that is what I am afraid of. They are pro-communists.")

BATTLE OF THE BONGS: Filipinos are fond of nicknames. Duterte supporters call him "Tatay (Father) Digong". Now, however, Digong’s appeal as a brazen, vulgar and anti-establishment leader has taken a beating, following a Senate probe linking his friends to questionable government purchases. The Senate is probing the deals and arrested key people involved. Duterte’s political rivals also alleged that Digong’s friends had ring-fenced prized state assets like the Malampaya oil and gas well, while multi-million construction projects had favoured companies controlled by one of his closest allies, Senator Christopher "Bong" Go (left), who is now running for president against Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.

A PROMISE OF PEACE IN 3 TO 6 MONTHS: As a presidential candidate in 2016, Duterte (shown shaking hands with communist rebel commander Leoncio Pitao, alias "Ka Parago", during his presidential campaign) vowed not only to curb corruption and drugs "in 3 to 6 months", but also to bring peace to the country, also in "3 to 6 months". He nailed the presidency by a landslide, having enjoyed support both from the extreme left and the extreme right. Less than a year after he came to power, talks with communist New People's Army broke down. Duterte labelled them a terror group in February 2017. His popularity went through the roof, but plunged in recent months. He landed at No. 2 spot, behind Senate President Tito Sotto, in the vice presidential survey conducted by a leading pollster. On Monday, supporters said Duterte will instead run for the Senate, but not under his own party.

“MABUHAY ANG (HAIL THE) NPA”: The Philippines has Asia's longest-running communist insurgency. In 2015, Duterte raised the hands of two communist New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in San Luis, Agusan Del Sur province, during the release of two soldiers who were held prisoners by the rebel group. In that occassion, Duterte exclaimed “Mabuhay ang (hail the) NPA.” He said then that he will not take that back, and clarified that the commendation for the communist movement was in recognition of their “fair treatment” of “prisoners of war.” "I didn’t see cases of abused and maltreated prisoners, because they say they follow the Geneva Convention,” Duterte said then. The then-Mayor said that the NPA has been “religiously following” international laws on the handling of captured policemen and soldiers.

GUEST OF HONOUR: There was no immediate comment from Marcos Jr’s camp on Duterte’s accusation. Leni warned against releasing such "dangerous" statements without basis. In 2017, Robredo has agreed with a move by the Duterte government to label the New People's Army, which is waging Asia's longest-running insurgency, as a terrorist group. Marcos Jr., a former senator who lost to Robredo in the 2016 VP race, was recently a guest of honour of the Chinese embassy in Manila for a “photo wall” celebrating diplomatic relations between China and the Philippines.

PLOTTING A COMEBACK: File photo show Bongbong during his campaign sortie in Muntinlupa city in 2016. The Marcoses have made a strong comback. In December 1990, the Swiss Federal Supreme Court affirmed that the Marcoses used Swiss banks to hide $356 million while they were in power. In 2018, following 27 years of litigation, Imelda was found guilty of spiriting $200m to Switzerland. The court sentenced her to 77 years’ jail, and ordered her arrest. Her laywer appealed. Imelda and her two children (Imee, now a senator, and Bongbong, now a presidential candidate) had been elected to public offices. A final decision may still be years away. Imelda is now 91. If she lives long enough to exhaust her appeals, she would have good reason to hope for a presidential pardon.

STRONGMAN? Duterte, 75, is perceived as a strongman by his ardent supporters; his detractors think otherwise. Duterte won by a landslide in 2016, garnering some 7 million votes more than the second-ranked rival, on the promise of turning the bodies of drug dealers to fish food. Philippine law limits presidents to a six-year single term which, for Duterte, ends in June 2022. VP Maria Leonor "Leni" Robredo, an economist-lawyer, scored a narrow victory against Bongbong (right) in a six-way VP race in 2016. Leni and Bongbong are the leading contenders in the presidential race for 2022. But, with the elections still more than 5 months away, the ability of other contenders to mount a win cannot be discounted.

UNPREDICTABLE: In a fresh twist, reflecting the current unpredictability in Philippine politics, President Duterte (age: 75) said on Sunday (November 14, 2021) he will run against his own daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio (left), again assailing the Marcoses for her daughter's decision to seek only the second-highest post (she's been leading in the polls, ahead of Marcos). A day earlier, on Saturday, Sara (age: 43) formalised her candidacy for vice president, via substitution, in next year’s national elections. The plot change yet again on Monday (November 15), with Duterte supporters saying the president will instead run for the Senate, also via substitution.

GODFATHER ESTRADA: Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte carries her new-born son, Marko Digong "Stonefish" Duterte Carpio as he is baptised in Davao City on Mar. 16, 2017. Former President Joseph Estrada (left) was one of the godfathers. Estrada's watch was cut short following EDSA II popular revolt following reports of abuse of power and hidden bank accounts.

WITHDRAWALS: As of Monday (November 15, 2021), 10 aspirants for national elective posts substituted for those who voluntarily withdrew their candidacies. Comelec made such an option available from October 9 to November 15. Based on a list given to local media on Monday, 19 people withdrew their certificates of candidacy after submitting their papers from October 1 to 8, the period of filing their certificate of candidacy. The most notable withdrawals include: Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa, from the presidential race; Christopher "Bong" Go, from the vice presidential race; and Noli De Castro, from the senatorial race.

SUBSTITUTIONS: Most of those who withdrew their candidacy were obscure personalities, who proved to be placeholders to political heavyweights. The most notable substitutions include: President Rodrigo Duterte, for senator; Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, for vice president (right); former anti-communist insurgency task force spokesman Antonio Parlade Jr., for president; former police chief Guillermo Eleazar, for senator; former presidential spokesman Harry Roque, for senator; former party-list representative Walden Bello, for vice president.

BONGBONG LEADS IN STRATBASE POLL: Bongbong was the most preferred candidate for president, according to a new poll by the Social Weather Stations (SWS), it was reported on Monday. The poll, commissioned by think tank Stratbase ADR Institute, Inc. showed that 47% of Filipinos would vote for former Senator Bongbong Marcos if elections were held today, the think tank posted on Facebook on Monday (November 15, 2021). Leni was a distant second, with 18%. Isko came in third with 13%, followed by boxing champion Pacman with 9%. Senators Panfilo M. Lacson and Ronald M. Dela Rosa were tied in fifth place with 5% each.

REPEAT OF 2016? It's increasingly looking like the 2022 will be an eerie sort of a repeat of the 2016 VP vote. A poll taken June 2015 for the VP race showed Marcos led by a wide margin, while Robredo had only 1% support. By mid-April 2016, her rating made a huge jump — to 26%. A Pulse Asia Research survey then taken April 26-29 saw Robredo on top of the VP race, with 30%, against Marcos’ 28%. Back then, three other Bicolanos also joined the VP stakes — Chiz Escudero, Gringo Honasan, and Antonio Trillanes IV, thus eroding Robredo’s hope of a solid Bicol vote. Alan Peter Cayetano’s wife is also a Bicolana. Robredo won in a coming-from-behind race by a slim margin against Marcos in 2016. Now, both Trillanes and Escudero have joined forces with Robredo.