A bit of history, a bit of 'love story'

If there is anything that I have learned from this ongoing impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte, it is history—the history of Russia, what else. It also tickles the "marites" in me, bringing with it the implications of a "love story," though a strange one at that.

Well, I dug into Russia's past when I heard of "Oplan Romanov." That was what the defense team of the VP articulated: that she had to do it because of the grave threat against President Bongbong Marcos, First Lady Liza, and then-Speaker Martin Romualdez. Russia was ruled by the Romanov family for over two centuries, until 1917 when the Bolsheviks massacred the family, including their "tigs," or the yayas, or something like that. If I have it right, Tsar Nicholas II of that family was the last. Oh, uh...

So, there was this plan, this so-called "Oplan Romanov," to "massacre" all the Dutertes. By who else? By the PBBM administration. Although no details about this have been heard until now, there is a narrative that the "reduction" of the VP's bodyguards was an indication.

Hence, the VP's threats, which we also saw. They were complete with that—how shall I describe it—a "distorted" look, with the fingers of one hand pointed and slashing at the air in utmost fury.

She was entitled to that, the defense team explained, because of this Oplan.

The DDS, or the Diehard Duterte Supporters, lapped it up, although the non-DDS thought otherwise. I even saw one vlogger say that this particular Oplan was first mentioned by her sibling, Baste. Back then, it was a plan to kill all the Marcoses, and now it has become a plan to kill the Dutertes?

Now the VP's defense team, led by attorneys Narvasa and Vinluan, has shown a video of the VP's chief of staff, Atty. Zuleika Lopez, sobbing uncontrollably because she had been treated badly by this administration. That followed the House of Representatives questioning her and not being satisfied with her answers because she was not forthright. That happened during an investigation by committees of the said body. As a result, she was made to stay at a women's facility there in Congress.

What? How cruel! They are doing that to my chief of staff? The good VP, it was reported, had a "meltdown." In our native parlance, nag-"wild," hahaha. But this is no laughing matter.

Meaning, the VP's actions were justified. So, in so many outbursts and maybe with hands flailing again, she made her anger known as she camped outside the facility. This administration under PBBM is so cruel, so the "meltdown" was justified?

One vlogger, CoachJarrett, insinuated without giving details that the action was because of some "love" between the two. Another vlogger, who calls himself "Vladcaster," commented that this was not the sort of reaction the VP had when her father, Tatay Digong, was swept off to The Hague, Netherlands. She took that somewhat calmly.

Yet a columnist, Mon Tulfo, said it outright: that the two are longtime "lovers." This "Mon" guy is always quoted in this aspect. As for me, I am wondering why a case has not been filed against him, if that isn't, well, untrue, or just, well, whatever.