POLITICAL MOTIVATIONS TO DELAY THE TRIAL
The social desires to postpone the trial are apparent for some lawmakers. Seven are running for re-election in the May semester elections. The test, which could last for months, did divert them and the country from their political campaigns.
As the congressional elections are an extremely economical race, for some candidates including celebrities and political elites, the worry is that an impeachment trial may damage their re-election chances if the public views them as lacking in lawful expertise or knowledge ( and therefore unqualified to render judgment on Sara Duterte ).
The congressional allies of Marcos Jr and a true criticism of politicians and pro-democratic civil society organisations now find themselves in the same social boat seeking the vice president’s faith to keep her guilty.
But, Sara Duterte’s supporters believe that the first team’s ulterior motive is to stop her from running for the president in 2028, as Marcos Jr is limited to a single six-year political expression. Constitutionally speaking, a conviction verdict may suggest that Sara Duterte is continually barred from holding any workplace.
Current polls indicate that Sara Duterte remains the strongest presidential contender in 2028 ( she is the choice of just under a third of respondents surveyed ). So, her supporters see the impeachment trial as less of a major drive to keep power to accounts but more of a means to hinder the Duterte dynasty’s return to the peak of Spanish politics.
Another Duterte presidency in 2028 will pose a direct existential threat to the Marcoses and their allies.
Democratic forces seem caught in a quandary given the Marcos-Duterte clans ‘ polarisation. Politicians and activists seem unable to differentiate their own positions from either the Marcos or Duterte camps’ since the break-up of the dynasties ‘ short-lived alliance.