The political rallies that once defined the immense street power of the Diehard Duterte Supporters (DDS) have always been more than just gatherings; they were spectacles of loyalty, passion, and an undeniable sense of political belonging. However, a recent event has exposed a deeply unsettling dimension to this mobilization, plunging the dedicated DDS base into a state of profound disillusionment. Reports have surfaced suggesting that the very organizers meant to support the cause may have exploited their followers, a bitter realization that is now causing a massive rift within the movement. Adding fuel to this political fire is the furious reaction of Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso—”Yorme”—who has openly condemned the actions of the rally participants, effectively declaring their presence and their methods unwelcome in the nation’s capital.

This confluence of betrayal and public condemnation is hitting the DDS faction hard. The shock of being allegedly “hoodwinked” (nabudol in Tagalog) by their own organizers, coupled with the scathing public rebuke from Yorme, a powerful figure in his own right, has led to a major shift in public perception. Moreover, the political atmosphere is so charged that the familiar DDS label is reportedly being replaced by a new, more loaded term—banateros—used to describe the group. This entire incident is a harsh lesson in the fragility of political movements built on loyalty, revealing how quickly a powerful mandate can crumble under the weight of internal mistrust and external hostility.

The Stinging Betrayal: DDS Allegedly “Hoodwinked” by Their Own

The most emotionally devastating element of this unfolding drama is the accusation that the dedicated DDS supporters were, in fact, taken advantage of by the organizers of their own recent gathering. The term nabudol, a Tagalog slang word that implies being scammed, tricked, or lured into a bad deal, speaks volumes about the alleged nature of the deception.

While the precise details of the alleged exploitation remain under intense scrutiny, the accusations typically revolve around financial promises or logistical arrangements gone sour. Supporters, often traveling long distances at great personal expense, may have been promised specific sums, resources, or organizational support that failed to materialize. When the passionate commitment of a dedicated political base is met not with solidarity but with alleged manipulation from within their own ranks, the blow to morale and trust is immense.

For the DDS, the rallies were sacred ground—a place where their unwavering commitment to the Duterte family transcended personal inconvenience. The emotional contract was simple: we show up, we support, and in return, the movement is real and righteous. The allegation of being hoodwinked shatters this contract, introducing a toxic element of cynicism. It forces the loyalists to question whether their sacrifices were used for a genuine cause or merely to line the pockets of unscrupulous organizers masquerading as true believers. This internal crisis of faith is far more damaging to the DDS as a political force than any external attack. It fractures the collective identity and plants seeds of division that are nearly impossible to root out.

The New Label: From DDS to Banateros

The political language surrounding the DDS faction is undergoing a significant and revealing transformation. The term DDS, an acronym associated with uncompromising loyalty and an aggressive online presence, is now reportedly being supplemented or replaced in popular discourse by the term Banateros.

The Tagalog word banat translates roughly to “a punch,” “a strike,” or a powerful, often cutting, verbal attack or rejoinder. A banatero (or banatera for female members) is therefore someone who is skilled in delivering such verbal punches—a person known for their aggressive, often confrontational, and highly opinionated style of political rhetoric.

This change in terminology is highly significant for several reasons:

Shift in Focus: It shifts the focus from the group’s loyalty (Diehard Duterte Supporters) to their method (aggressive rhetoric). This new term emphasizes the combative, polarizing, and arguably abrasive nature of their political engagement, rather than their core political conviction.

Derogatory Connotation: While banat can be seen as witty or forceful, banatero in this context carries a distinctly derogatory connotation. It frames the group as mere troublemakers or belligerent hecklers, diminishing their political legitimacy and intellectual weight.

Wider Application: The term Banateros can be applied to anyone who engages in aggressive political talk, effectively broadening the negative perception beyond the confines of the Duterte family’s support. It becomes a catch-all term for the segment of the political populace that thrives on antagonism, a move that subtly de-legitimizes their political passion.

This linguistic shift reflects a broader public weariness with the aggressive and often toxic tone of political debate associated with the DDS faction. It serves as a political tool to marginalize and stereotype the movement, making their political voice easier to dismiss.

Yorme’s Unvarnished Wrath: The Manila Declaration

The situation for the rally participants turned from bad to worse with the fiery condemnation from Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso (Yorme). A political figure known for his directness and charismatic appeal to the working class, Yorme did not mince words when addressing the recent rally in the capital. His alleged anger at the participants for perceived offenses—potentially related to disorder, vandalism, or lack of proper permits—serves as a powerful, public declaration that the political atmosphere in Manila is hostile to the methods employed by these groups.

Mayor Domagoso’s condemnation carries immense weight because:

Local Authority: As the chief executive of Manila, his word carries the authority of the local government. His anger translates into potential restrictions, fines, or even arrests for future mass actions, effectively chilling the DDS’s ability to mobilize in the nation’s most crucial political venue.

National Voice: Yorme is a national figure and a former presidential candidate. His criticism is not just local policy; it’s a powerful national statement. He is positioning himself as a figure of order and accountability, contrasting himself sharply with the perceived chaos and lawlessness sometimes associated with these large-scale political demonstrations.

Political Realignment: Given President Marcos Jr.’s recent public embrace of Yorme, the Mayor’s condemnation of the rally participants, many of whom are anti-Marcos or pro-Duterte, takes on an added layer of political significance. Yorme’s anger reinforces the growing narrative that the Marcos administration and its allies are creating a political environment that actively marginalizes and pushes back against the Duterte faction’s base.

Yorme’s unvarnished wrath serves as a final, public nail in the coffin of the rally’s credibility, ensuring that the participants not only felt tricked by their organizers but are now publicly shamed and unwelcome in the city that is the symbolic center of power.

The Crisis of Political Authenticity

The entire event underscores a deep crisis of political authenticity within the DDS movement. A base built on the premise of uncompromising strength and unwavering truth is now faced with evidence of internal deception and external rejection.

This disillusionment raises critical questions about the nature of their ongoing support: How long can a movement survive when its most passionate members feel exploited by their own organizers? How effective can their political action be when the very cities they rally in declare them unwelcome and label them provocateurs?

The transition from a ‘diehard supporter’ to a banatero is a crucial political indicator. It suggests that the movement’s image is rapidly deteriorating from a formidable political bloc into a marginalized group associated with disruptive and unwelcome behavior. The emotional core of their movement—the feeling of being part of a righteous struggle against the establishment—is being stripped away, leaving behind the painful reality of political isolation and exploitation.

The DDS base, currently reeling from the combined sting of alleged betrayal and public shaming, now faces a critical choice: either fundamentally reorganize, cleanse their ranks of perceived unscrupulous organizers, and find a more constructive way to engage in national discourse, or risk fading into political obscurity, remembered only as the angry Banateros who were eventually played by their own and rejected by the capital. The raw emotion generated by this sense of betrayal is the ultimate fuel for political change, and how the DDS harnesses this emotion will determine whether they can resurrect their immense political power or remain trapped in the cycle of disillusionment.