The political landscape of the nation is currently witnessing a volatile and unprecedented internal conflict, one that pits the interests of the current administration against the enduring loyalty of a formidable, rival political machine. At the heart of this confrontation lies the massive support base of former President Rodrigo Duterte (often known as the DDS), a group that remains a powerful, often unpredictable, force in national politics. Amidst escalating allegations concerning budget transparency, politically motivated financial allocations, and persistent public questions regarding the capacity and stability of his leadership, President Bongbong Marcos Jr. is reportedly engaging in a strategic political maneuver interpreted by critics as a desperate attempt to co-opt or neutralize this powerful adversary.

This calculated move, described by political commentators not as a genuine effort at reconciliation but as a pragmatic gambit to consolidate power, has been met with immediate and profound skepticism. It is seen as a glaring deflection from the core issues currently plaguing the administration: pervasive allegations of corruption involving public funds, evasive responses to calls for lifestyle checks, and the failure to decisively address scandals that critics warn are eroding the foundation of public trust and governance. The timing and nature of this outreach suggest an administration under significant internal and external pressure, willing to explore high-risk strategies to survive a mounting crisis of confidence.

The Unending Echo of Competency Questions

The current political volatility is deeply rooted in persistent, damaging questions regarding President Marcos’s leadership capacity. These concerns, which gained national visibility through high-profile, unverified statements made by former political allies, continue to resonate deeply within the public discourse. Critics frequently cite the President’s perceived lack of decisiveness and what they describe as “spaced-out” or “addict-like” responses to serious national issues, creating an atmosphere of chronic instability and public doubt regarding his fitness for the demanding role of Chief Executive.

For the administration, these accusations pose a critical challenge, one that cannot be solved through conventional political campaigning. They demand a demonstration of robust, verifiable competence and sobriety. The public’s lingering questions have fundamentally shaped the current environment, forcing the administration into a perpetual defensive stance. The perceived failure of the Palace to offer transparent, detailed, and non-evasive answers to these fundamental competency concerns only validates the narrative put forth by its political antagonists. This crisis of leadership perception provides the crucial context for understanding the administration’s desperate need to shift the national conversation and secure political peace with the Duterte camp.

The Pervasive Crisis of Budget Accountability

The political maneuvering directed toward the DDS base is seen by critics as a direct attempt to divert scrutiny from a massive, escalating crisis of financial accountability within the Marcos government. Foremost among these is the staggering revelation of alleged budget manipulation within the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). Investigative reports and legislative disclosures have highlighted a pervasive issue of concealed discretionary funds and politically motivated allocations that suggest a dangerous return to historical patterns of governance.

The gravity of the situation was amplified by the public statements of a respected political voice, alleging the surreptitious insertion of a massive P1.2 trillion in discretionary funds into the DPWH budget for 2025 and 2026. This monumental figure, according to the allegations, has been intentionally shielded from public view, bypassing standard auditing and transparency protocols. Critics have directly challenged the administration to release the complete list of proponents for these funds, arguing that the deliberate obfuscation protects high-ranking officials and contractors implicated in the alleged scheme.

Furthermore, investigative findings have exposed an alarming pattern of financial bias directed toward political allies and family members. Reports detail unprecedented amounts of discretionary funds funneled to the districts of the President’s closest relatives, including his own son and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez. These allocations, totaling tens of billions of pesos, are seen as flagrant examples of political kinship superseding public need and transparent governance. The administration’s defensive and often dismissive response to these allegations, characterized by vague assurances of personal integrity rather than a commitment to full, independent investigation, only serves to amplify public suspicion that the government is actively protecting individuals involved in massive financial malfeasance. The inability or refusal to seriously address these “ghost projects” and concealed funds constitutes a profound failure of governance that demands a political shield—a role the DDS base is now being targeted to fill.

The Calculated “Gift”: A Strategy of Political Co-option

The administration’s sudden strategic pivot toward the DDS base is, therefore, not a gesture of goodwill but a calculated political necessity. The “gift” is less about policy and more about political survival. It is an acknowledgment of the potent threat posed by a unified opposition. By initiating a series of public moves perceived as beneficial or conciliatory toward the Duterte faction, the Marcos administration aims to achieve several critical objectives:

Neutralize the Core Opposition: A stable political environment requires the neutralization of mass-based opposition. By appealing directly to the DDS base, the administration seeks to create a wedge between the supporters and the Duterte political leadership, thereby mitigating the capacity of the opposition to mobilize mass dissent.

Divert Scrutiny: The political spectacle created by this maneuver serves as a massive distraction from the economic and corruption crises. Every media minute spent analyzing the Marcos-Duterte dynamic is a minute not spent scrutinizing the P1.2 trillion in concealed DPWH funds or the President’s evasive answers regarding his leadership competency.

Bolster Weakened Support: The persistent allegations of corruption and competency issues have weakened the President’s internal support. Co-opting the DDS base provides a much-needed injection of political capital, presenting an image of a broad, unified coalition capable of weathering the current storms.

This strategy carries significant risks. It is viewed as cynical political theater that prioritizes political expediency over the fundamental principles of good governance. Critics warn that such an overt attempt to manipulate political loyalties will ultimately fail if not accompanied by demonstrable, verifiable accountability regarding the core financial and ethical questions at the heart of the current crisis.

The Public Demand for Verifiable Accountability

The high stakes in this political confrontation lie in the preservation of democratic accountability. The narrative is clear: the public is no longer accepting political promises; it demands transparent, verifiable action. The administration is being challenged to prove its integrity through concrete steps:

Non-Selective Investigation: Any investigation into corruption, particularly those related to budget allocations and “ghost projects,” must be demonstrably non-selective and impartial, including an immediate and comprehensive audit of all funds allocated to the President’s family and political allies.

Release of Crucial Documents: The administration must cease its institutional protection of implicated officials and immediately release all internal DPWH documents required for the ICI and the Ombudsman to conduct a thorough and effective investigation into the P1.2 trillion insertion.

Demonstration of Competency: The President must rise above the damaging accusations concerning his leadership capacity by demonstrating a clear, focused command over national policy and a commitment to addressing crises with transparent decisiveness.

The political future of the Marcos administration hinges not on its capacity for strategic political maneuvering directed toward the DDS base, but on its fundamental willingness to submit to the demands of public accountability and transparency. The persistent questions regarding competence and the concealed budget funds will not vanish until the answers are revealed through action, not deflection. The nation is watching, acutely aware that the failure to address this crisis with integrity risks repeating a dangerous and damaging chapter of its political history. The final verdict will be rendered not by political allies, but by the undeniable evidence of governance—or the lack thereof—that emerges from the shadow of the P1.2 trillion question.