ILIGAN City ― Over coffee and slices of pizza at a quiet diner, my friend Fely leaned in and said, "We have lots of copycats these days. I’m talking about politicians. Never mind us mere mortals."
I couldn’t agree more. Take, for instance, the resurgence of programs and rhetoric from the Marcos era. The names Kadiwa, Maharlika, and Bagong—all echoing Ferdinand Marcos Sr.’s regime—have been revived by his son, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. The haunting melody of the old Maharlika song once rivaled our national anthem, Lupang Hinirang, in prominence, and now, it’s creeping back into public consciousness.
"I should have said that," Fely shot back with a smile. "But since you beat me to it, let me point out another set of copycats: the Duterte siblings."
She was referring to Vice President Sara Duterte, Paolo Duterte, and Sebastian "Baste" Duterte. "The ‘kill’ rhetoric rolls off their tongues easily, mimicking their father, former President Rodrigo Duterte," Fely said bluntly. To be fair, I haven’t heard Paolo using such language, but Sara and Baste certainly have.
“I wonder if PBBM will also copy Martial Law?” Fely mused, shifting the conversation back to the Marcoses. “Hmm, that's tricky. The Constitution now has more safeguards. But let’s see.”
“Anyway,” I replied, “this Marcos Jr. has a different personality from his father, even though he borrows heavily from his legacy.”
Fely nodded, her expression darkening. “The trouble with VP Sara is her specificity. She’s openly named political rivals—like PBBM, his wife, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez—as targets of her ire. It’s like she’s claiming the 2028 presidency as her birthright and views anyone else as a threat.”
Unlike Sara, her father was more cryptic, issuing threats without naming names. “Duterte would say, ‘I will kill you,’ but the targets were implied rather than specified. His alleged death squads knew the details,” Fely said, referencing reports about the notorious Davao Death Squad.
"I think Sara panicked at some point," I added, recalling her impromptu midnight press conference. "Some called it a meltdown. It’s no surprise that impeachment talks followed, though I doubt they’ll go far."
"Not with the recent support from the Iglesia ni Cristo," Fely replied, referring to the influential religious bloc known for its political clout.
"Others seem to have copied the INC’s stance," I noted. "Various groups rallied, not just against the impeachment but also over budget controversies. Some claim the national budget contains ‘blank items,’ though defenders insist these were just drafts during deliberation."
Fely leaned back, her eyes narrowing. "Even locally, we see leaders mimicking Duterte’s rhetoric and tactics. Remember that case of the lawyer who survived a shooting? The message was clear—retire or face worse."
Silence settled between us as we finished our coffee. Then Fely said quietly, "If the DDS members' claims are true, Tatay Digong wasn’t just a copycat of past leaders—he mirrored Hitler."
"That’s harsh," I replied, wincing at the comparison.
"Maybe," she said. "But think about it. He’s like a cross between Hitler and Pablo Escobar. Escobar was a drug lord, sure, but he also built hospitals and schools in Colombia. He even tried to enter politics before his darker side was exposed. The person who revealed the truth? Assassinated."
I sat there, pondering her words, unsure if her analysis was fair. But one line from an old Filipino movie echoed in my mind: "You’re nothing but a second-rate, trying-hard copycat."
Sometimes, art imitates life—and so do our leaders.
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