The metamorphosis of VP Sara Duterte

Aposematism is a term coined in 1877 by Edward Poulton to describe the art of the chameleon, which is changing colors to mislead the enemy. It’s a very clever defense mechanism. Given the political konfrontasi between the Marcoses and Dutertes, we can see that the vice president has perfected the art of aposematism. She is the perfect image of a human chameleon.

From recklessly threatening to talk to an assassin, supposedly to eliminate the president, first lady, and speaker, the PR handlers of the vice president miraculously transformed her public image to a rather subdued, mild-mannered and appropriately-speaking stateswoman appealing for sobriety. Wow. Quite an evolution. But it paid off. Her approval ratings zoomed up.

From a fiery political warrior who threatened to dig up the bones of BBM's father from the Libingan Ng Mga Bayani and scatter them in the West Philippine Sea, her astute political advisers and image handlers refurbished her public image. From a high-handed, proud and adversarial talker, Sara mysteriously became a smiling and sheep-like underdog. Wow. What a transformation.

I feel she is more cunning than the president. To exacerbate the comparative analysis, I also feel her advisers, political handlers, and PR team are doing much better than the president's underlings. If this trend continues, then the chances of her being acquitted by the Senate acting as an impeachment court rises considerably.

Sara can very transform herself from a very adversarial antagonist who slapped a male sheriff to stop the implementation of a judicial writ many years ago when she was still Davao City mayor, into a calm, calculating, wily Machiavellian artist of intricate political battles. And, by all the looks of it, she is succeeding. I think she is wiser in human psychology and more adept in the art of the political chameleon.

The latest Pulse Asia survey indicates her approval and trust ratings went up quite considerably, which should alarm the Palace, while the peoples' approval and trust in BBM have gone down. Sara's miraculous evolution is also helping her Senate bets. The Duterte-endorsed senatorial candidates have improved their chances by edging out weaker Alyansa bets like Benhur Abalos and Francis Tolentino.

If and when she galvanizes more votes for her Senate bets, then the number of senators to return a verdict of not guilty in the upcoming Senate impeachment trial shall secure at the very least 8 to 12 votes to acquit. That means the Palace shall be denied the opportunity to secure at least 16 senators to vote for a guilty verdict. Now that Imee Marcos and Camille Villar have been endorsed by Sara, that means that the chances for her acquittal are becoming more and more secure.

She is emerging as the more astute, shrewd, canny, and savvy politician. She could change colors in the blink of an eye to achieve a tactical objective in her long-range goal to capture the Palace again for the Dutertes. I feel Sara is more sharp witted than her impulsive and stubborn father. Sara can make a categorical declaration in one breath and deny it in the next breath. And the wonder of it all is that she is able to make people believe her still.

The president may not have the expert PR handlers she has. At times, we can say BBM's answers to questions from the news reporters are knee-jerk reactions sans deep analysis. Maybe he’s listening too much to his wife, who is a lawyer and a very smart one at that. But the first lady, we respectfully interject, doesn’t have the wisdom of experience Sara has accumulated all the years in politics. So now the president is being outwitted. If this continues, 2028 may turn out very bad for the Marcoses.

I am neither for the Marcoses or Dutertes. They belong to the same phylum in the political animal kingdom. But I know for sure the vice president has reengineered her political image. She has shifted gears and changed her colors based on what people want. That is why I conclude Sara is one of the most dangerous politicians. And the unkindest cut of all is that the people are taking her words. She is succeeding in her scheme to revise the script and change the endgame in Philippine politics. I’m not saying BBM is better. He can be worse.

For these reasons, it’s high time that Filipinos should consider a third alternative, Risa Hontiveros or Bam Aquino, for example. Or a long shot, Vico Sotto.