By Junex Doronio

MANILA — Despite the anti-Charter change stance of the Duterte political family, the so-called “Pinklawans” are not biting the sudden change in messaging of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and his children, including Vice President Sara Duterte.

This was the analysis of former Presidential Adviser for Political Affairs Ronald Llamas who said that the Dutertes are apparently aiming to co-opt the “Pinklawans” in their goal to oust President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. which will benefit VP Sara Duterte as the constitutional successor.

“‘Yung mga dati mong kalaban na hindi naman sila ang nasa poder, medyo ‘wag mo munang banatan. Ang banatan mo ngayon ay ‘yung pangunahing kalaban. Di ka magugulat na sinasakyan nila ang People Power, katulad ng sinasakyan nila itong 1987 People Power Constitution,” Llamas said.

He recalled FPRRD’s statement during a January prayer rally in Davao City that there’s nothing wrong with the 1987 Constitution which he sought to amend when he was in Malacañang.

On the other hand, VP Sara suddenly extolled the “lessons” from the 1986 People Power Revolution on its 38th anniversary Sunday (25 February 2024), a turnaround from her remark in 2017 downplaying its significance.

But Llamas noted that Liberal Party’s (LP) message for the People Power revolt anniversary emphasized the need for justice to be served for victims of the drug war under the Duterte administration, even as the party also opposes the charter change initiative of Marcos Jr.’s allies in Congress.

“Hindi sila (LP) tumatawag ng People Power against the government. Ang People Power nila against Cha-cha. Dahil ang People Power against the government, mas justified ‘yan kung walang tinatawag na democratic space,” Llamas said.

 “You can criticize the government nang hindi mo pinapabagsak,” he stressed.

(el Amigo/MNM)