Rodrigo Duterte’s Advice to Sara: Get Out of Politics, Unless You Have a Better Plot Twist

By Louis ‘Barok‘ C. Biraogo — November 12, 2024

IN A move both stunning and, well, not, Vice President Sara Duterte has reassured the nation that although her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, has suggested she make a swift exit from politics, she simply can’t; the Filipino people, after all, need her. Indeed, she’s affirmed her commitment to the “32.2 million Filipinos who placed their trust and confidence” in her. Never mind the other million or so who might question where the Office of the Vice President’s confidential funds went—those details will be addressed in due time, or as she put it, when “God’s purpose shall prevail.”

Her father, however, insists otherwise. “Inday, just be thankful and get out of politics—fast,” Rodrigo Duterte urged. It’s the type of fatherly advice that implies he may be seeing some cracks in his daughter’s political armor. And he has some compelling reasons: Sara, he hints, may be more inclined to listen to her estranged mother, a civilian who, presumably, isn’t fully versed in the fine art of “discretionary spending.” Plus, Dad seems to think Sara’s opponents have already outmaneuvered her. There’s no need for her to stick around to find out how.

Still, the Vice President, undeterred by audits and House investigations, has her own reasons for staying put. Some point to her towering popularity in recent polls—riding high even after the Philippine Commission on Audit flagged a whopping P164 million of the OVP’s confidential funds. In fact, the ongoing probes seem more like minor inconveniences, mere speed bumps on her fast-track to the highest office in the land. After all, if the confidential fund misuse ever does rise to a legal crescendo, she might find it handy to be in a powerful position to “untangle” any potential issues. It’s not corruption if it’s for the people, right?

But the nation wonders: should Sara listen to her father and bow out gracefully? Perhaps, but the timing seems off. Could she really walk away when the existential future of the Duterte dynasty itself could be on the line? Or when, after all, she’s got betting odds in her favor for the 2028 presidency?

The House of Cards: A Satirical Look at Family and Politics

The drama within the Duterte family might as well be written as a telenovela plot. Rodrigo, a past master in political strategy, surely grasps that no dynasty lasts forever, and his daughter, formidable as she is, may just be up against opponents who are equally cunning. So what’s a dad to do? Warn her to leave the game before she learns the hard way that being Vice President isn’t just about public appearances but balancing budgets and making friends in all the right accounting departments.

For her part, Sara has declared that the time will come when she’ll hang up her proverbial political gloves. But that time, as she’s clarified, hasn’t quite arrived yet. “We will get there,” she insists with a diplomatic shrug. She could probably use a few more “retirement” announcements herself before really making her exit.

Should Sara Heed Rodrigo’s Advice?

Ah, the million-peso question. Rodrigo’s plea could be seen as either a strategic maneuver to safeguard the family legacy—or a bluff. Some wonder if, deep down, he just wants another horse in the race. With Sara at the top of the polls, there’s little chance he can make that swap easily. But maybe he’s playing the long game: publicly advising her to leave politics could be his way of keeping her in the headlines just enough to gain a sympathy vote from the 32.2 million who still trust her.

Of course, Sara’s own devotion to patriotic duty cannot be discounted. She’s in the business of “answering to the Filipino people,” and what better way to do that than holding on to her seat of power? After all, why stop now when she’s just getting comfortable?

The “Joke’s On You” Guide: Satirical Recommendations for Key Players

Sara Duterte: Lean into those high poll numbers and start a “Serving the People Until Proven Guilty” campaign. Any controversy over confidential funds? That’s just the price of answering the call of public service, right? And perhaps consider marketing a line of “Public Service: Priceless” T-shirts. The people are sure to get a kick out of that—and possibly contribute a few pesos to your next campaign.
Rodrigo Duterte: Keep the warnings vague and the advice cryptic. “Get out of politics” is good, but why not throw in a few even more mysterious phrases? Try, “Only a fish knows when it’s time to swim away.” That’ll keep Sara guessing for a while and might even make her think about leaving. Or, on the other hand, stay the course with “you’ll know what I mean when you get there”—a time-honored classic.
Sara’s Political Adversaries: Make your moves now. While she’s dealing with the audit issues, send her “retirement” bouquets or maybe personalized calendars counting down to her “exit.” The more gifts, the better. She’s not going anywhere right now, but you might just weaken her resolve.
The Filipino People: Don’t worry too much—remember, all this drama is for your benefit. And in the meantime, if you have trouble keeping up with all these political twists, you’re not alone. Consider hosting your own “Duterte Family Plotline” bingo nights.

Conclusion

In the ongoing telenovela of Filipino politics, Sara Duterte’s ‘commitment’ to her father’s guidance and the nation’s welfare is less of a duty and more of a well-rehearsed encore. As she juggles cryptic fatherly advice, personal ambition, and that pesky confidential fund audit, the Duterte legacy refuses to fade to black. And really, isn’t that the point? For the Dutertes, politics is more showbiz than service, a saga where the plot only matters as long as there’s another episode. So, whether Sara chooses loyalty or rebellion in the next ‘season,’ stay tuned—this family drama isn’t anywhere near its final curtain.