In the high-stakes world of Philippine politics, winning an election is rarely the end of the battle; it is merely the prelude to the next, often more brutal, fight for power and survival. The landslide victory of the UniTeam in 2022, securing the Presidency for Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. (PBBM) and the Vice Presidency for Sara Duterte, was celebrated as a monumental display of unified force. Yet, the jubilant political rallies are long over, the confetti has settled, and the subsequent political landscape reveals a truth far more complex, and frankly, devastating for one side of that historic alliance.

The current atmosphere is defined by stark contrasts: President Marcos, despite facing his own share of controversy, remains the figurehead, navigating the complex machinery of the state. Meanwhile, Vice President Sara Duterte, once the political heir apparent of a deeply entrenched dynasty, appears to have been cornered—her legislative agenda scrutinized, her Cabinet post resigned, and her public presence dramatically subdued. The most telling sign of this shift lies in the collective spirit of her most fervent supporters, the Diehard Duterte Supporters (DDS), who, according to vocal political observers, are now facing the painful reality of dwindling support and political isolation. The celebratory roar of the DDS that once defined national discourse seems to have been replaced by a silence so profound it borders on political irrelevance. The question that hangs heavily in the air is direct and devastating: Did the former allies succeed in neutralizing the formidable political force of the Dutertes, leaving the once-dominant faction politically silenced and vulnerable?

The Triumph and Its Aftermath: A Unity That Never Was

The UniTeam coalition was a political marvel—a strategic fusion of two powerful and historically opposed families. The goal was singular: to win. They achieved this objective with a massive mandate, a testament to the combined strength of their respective bailiwicks and political narratives. However, political alliances born of convenience rarely survive the pressures of governing. As soon as the two principals were sworn into office, the fissures began to appear, driven by fundamental differences in policy, personality, and, most critically, the conflicting ambitions for the 2028 presidential race.

For the Marcos camp, the immediate objective post-victory was to govern and consolidate power, subtly minimizing the influence of their highly popular Vice President. For the Duterte camp, the immediate objective was to protect their legacy and secure the pathway for Sara Duterte’s eventual ascension to the Presidency. These two objectives proved incompatible.

The political rallies, which were the lifeblood of the Duterte campaign—a physical demonstration of raw, overwhelming street-level support—have now become ghost memories. The power of the rallies was in their momentum, their ability to create an undeniable, highly visible narrative of popular demand. The fact that “PBBM is still the President” after all the political noise is a brutal reminder to the opposition and the DDS that mass gatherings and passionate online discourse, while potent for campaigning, are insufficient to change the fundamental reality of state power and constitutional governance. The process has run its course, and the political winner remains entrenched.

The Vice President’s Silence: The Sound of Political Isolation

A defining feature of the post-election landscape has been the perceived political silence of Vice President Sara Duterte, or her reduction to an administrative role far removed from the centers of national political action. While she initially held a key Cabinet position, her eventual resignation from the Department of Education, driven by intense scrutiny over her office’s financial management and escalating tensions with the House of Representatives, marked a turning point.

The Vice President’s platform shifted dramatically from being a co-pilot of the administration to a figure increasingly operating on the periphery. Her public statements became less about national policy and more focused on localized programs or veiled critiques of her former allies. This retreat from the national stage is viewed by critics as a strategic failure to maintain relevance or, more chillingly, as evidence of successful political containment by the Marcos faction.

The “nganga” (a Tagalog word implying disappointment, emptiness, or being left out) described by the source suggests a sense of frustration from her base that she is unable or unwilling to unleash the political force they know she possesses. Her supporters, used to the aggressive, confrontational, and dominant political style of her father, are witnessing their champion seemingly muted, unable to fully capitalize on her massive electoral mandate to steer the national agenda. This silence, whether forced or strategic, is being interpreted by many of her followers as a profound political defeat.

The Fraying Edge of the DDS Mandate

The most emotionally charged aspect of the current political environment is the plight of the Diehard Duterte Supporters (DDS). This group is a powerful, digitally organized, and fiercely loyal political constituency that views their support for the Duterte family as a moral, almost non-negotiable, obligation. They were instrumental in the UniTeam’s victory, turning out massive votes in the South and dominating the narrative online.

However, the DDS mandate appears to be fraying at the edges. The public debates, the constitutional challenges, and the continuous scrutiny of the Duterte family’s affairs have created an environment of political exhaustion and attrition. The source’s observation that the DDS are now “iyak” (crying) and feel that “wala ng sumusuporta” (no one is supporting them anymore) speaks volumes about their current emotional state.

This feeling of abandonment stems from several factors:

Isolation: As the Marcos-Duterte rift deepened, the DDS found themselves isolated within the ruling government. The machinery of the state—Congress, key government agencies, and presidential allies—began to align overwhelmingly with the sitting President, leaving the DDS without institutional backing.

Narrative Control: The dominant national media and online discourse have, over time, shifted focus away from the triumphant Duterte narrative toward the current administration’s agenda and the mounting legal and ethical questions surrounding the Duterte family itself. Their once-powerful online propaganda machine is facing formidable counter-narratives.

Leadership Vacuum: The Vice President’s constrained public role has left the DDS without the constant, fiery leadership they require to mobilize and maintain cohesion. They are a fighting force designed to rally around a strong, vocal commander, and that commander has been politically muffled.

The erosion of the DDS’s public influence is not just a matter of political loss; it is a crisis of identity for a movement built on the absolute righteousness of its cause. To feel abandoned by their former allies and see their primary objective—the continuity of the Duterte political line—facing such strong headwinds is a profound disappointment that has translated into public expressions of grievance and political disarray.

The Long Game: What the Silence Portends

The current situation represents a major turning point in Philippine political history, moving from the spectacle of the 2022 elections to the grinding reality of political survival. The DDS’s current feeling of being politically “orphaned” may be temporary, but it has severe implications for the future.

If the DDS faction cannot quickly find a way to remobilize, re-energize, and redefine their role in this new political reality, their highly disciplined support base could splinter. They could either become a fiercely aggressive opposition force targeting the Marcos administration or, potentially, fall into disarray, diluting their electoral impact in future polls.

For President Marcos, the ability to withstand the post-election political fallout, consolidate his position, and push the Vice President to the margins without triggering a full-scale revolt by her base is a testament to the strategic success of his administration’s maneuvering. The Presidency, after all, is the ultimate prize, and as the dust settles from the rallies, the constitutional reality remains: PBBM is the President, and the political power resides with the one who holds the highest office, regardless of the size of the initial mandate given to his running mate.

The lasting lesson from this political drama is a painful one for the DDS: passion and popularity can win elections, but institutional power, strategic alliance-building, and control over the machinery of the state are what ultimately dictate the direction of the country. The former allies have seemingly won the battle for Manila and the national narrative, leaving the once-invincible DDS to grapple with the bitter consequences of their political isolation. Their political future now hinges on whether their leaders can transform their current silence into a new, effective strategy for survival and resurgence.