By Junex Doronio

MANILA — Acknowledging the “weakness” of the political opposition, two political analysts have agreed that it should ally — for now — with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., particularly on the issue of West Philippine Sea (WPS) in the face of China’s aggressive moves and against the Dutertes’ apparent intent to seize power.

Political analysts Ronald Llamas and Richard Heydarian in their vlog agreed that PBBM “is not the enemy” of the opposition but those who serve the interests of China which had became “spoiled” during the six years term of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.

“I hope they (the opposition) can put up a bigger tent for the 2025 midterm elections,” Llamas told Heydarian in their exchanges on the latter’s vlog.

Earlier, he noted that during the recent Christmas party of the Liberal Party at the house of LP president and Albay Representative Edcel Lagman, only the Makabayan bloc stalwarts were invited.

Former Senators Antonio “Sonny”Trillanes IV of Magdalo and Bam Aquino and Chel Diokno of Kaya Natin, Sen. Risa Hontiveros and Llamas of Akbayan were not invited.

To recall in 2022, the opposition was also not able to establish a “big tent” due to the alleged blocking of Trillanes to the inclusion of Neri Colmenares of Makabayan bloc into their Senate slate.

Only Hontiveros won from the senatorial bets of the opposition.

He added that it is now obvious that there’s a “civil war” between the Marcos loyalists and the DDS (Duterte Diehard Supporters).

“It all started early this year with the Tambaloslos (remark),” Llamas noted.

He was referring to Vice President Sara Duterte’s insulting reaction apparently targeting Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez after her political mentor former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was stripped of her position as Senior Deputy House Speaker.

Heydarian also commented that the opposition could now be a “de facto UniTeam” with PBBM with regards to standing up against China in the WPS issue and against Duterte returning to power.

Llamas said he believes Duterte will run for Senate in 2025 “to rally his remaining DDS.”

However, he added that although Duterte emerged as the number one choice for senator in 2025 in a recent survey but his “approval and popularity ratings” have significantly dropped to only about 40 percent unlike his time when he was president.

(IA/MNM)