In ancient Chinese warfare, generals used a ruthless tactic when they were outnumbered: they cornered their troops in front of a river so there was no escape. No retreat, no surrender. When soldiers know there is nowhere to run, they fight harder. Fear turns into loyalty. Desperation turns into obedience.
That is exactly what Sara Duterte’s advisers and communication team are doing now — cornering their followers emotionally so they will fight blindly for her, no matter the issue.
1. Cornered, Not Conspired
It’s true that Sara Duterte is being attacked from many sides. Marcos, Romualdez, Kakampinks, Leftists — everyone has their own agenda. Totoo, pinopolitika siya. Pero hindi lahat ng pinopolitika ay inosente. In politics, being attacked is not a badge of virtue; often, it’s the price you pay for poor performance.
And let’s be honest: everything in politics is political. The whole system runs on power, influence, and survival. So the line “pinopolitika lang ako” is a weak defense. Politics is not persecution; it is the arena of accountability.
Her inner circle knows this, yet they twist the narrative. They turn every question into “pambabastos,” every investigation into “panggigipit.” Parang sundalong itinulak sa pampang ng ilog, her followers are made to believe that the only choice left is to fight, even when their loyalty is being used.
Yes, politics can be cruel but governance is not theater. Leaders are judged by outcomes, not by applause.
2. Turning Weakness into a Rallying Cry
The more Sara looks cornered, the louder her defenders scream. Every criticism becomes personal, every issue turns into “fake news.” But beneath the noise lies a record that’s hard to defend.
As DepEd Secretary, she failed to deliver basic reforms. The overpriced laptop deal remained unresolved. Thousands of classrooms were left unfinished, yet she blamed the DPWH instead of fixing the system. The feeding program for students was spoiled literally and figuratively. Kahit pa minana niya ang ilang problema, wala siyang ipinakitang solusyon. A true leader inherits problems and solves them, not points fingers.
A real leader cleans the mess; she didn’t even touch the mop.
And before anyone says, “lahat naman may issue,” remember that accountability is not comparative. We don’t excuse wrongdoing by saying others do it too.
3. Terrain Control: The Battlefield of Emotion
Chinese generals used terrain to win wars; Sara’s team uses emotion to win sympathy. They want people to see not the COA findings or DepEd data, but a woman being bullied by the powerful. Yet while this drama unfolds, DepEd’s own reports show declining student performance, teacher shortages, and a worsening lack of learning materials under her leadership.
That’s not politics — that’s performance. Public service is not a teleserye. Ang laban ng lider ay hindi sa awa kundi sa resulta.
4. The Real Danger: When the River Floods Back
But illusions don’t last forever. Once people realize that being attacked is not the same as being right, the walls of defense will crumble. No amount of emotional propaganda can hide unpaid teachers, broken schools, or spoiled food from feeding programs. When those truths rise again, they flood everything.
Her political machinery cannot rely forever on the narrative of persecution. Because truth, like water, always finds its way back.
5. The Pattern of Desperation
This playbook isn’t new. Duterte Sr. used the same script — the “probinsyano versus elites” narrative even while holding the full power of the presidency. The same tactic was used to justify EJKs (“kalaban ng gobyerno”), to silence media (“fake news daw”), and to dismiss the ICC (“panghihimasok ng dayuhan”). Now the same story is being recycled — same family, same tactic, same manipulation of loyalty.
And now, her camp is crying foul that Boying Remulla was appointed Ombudsman claiming it’s part of a plot to destroy Sara. But investigating corruption is the Ombudsman’s job. Billions were allegedly pocketed from flood control projects with witnesses naming Martin Romualdez and Zaldy Co, yet her supporters frame Remulla’s appointment as a political attack.
The irony is clear. During Rodrigo Duterte’s time, he himself tried to impeach then Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales after she investigated corruption in his administration but he failed. Now the same people who cheered that attempt are crying persecution.
The problem is not the ordinary supporters who believe her. The real problem is the circle that keeps feeding them the illusion of persecution to hide incompetence and corruption.
In the end, this is not courage, it’s desperation disguised as loyalty. Real strength comes from accountability, not victimhood. Real leadership doesn’t corner people to make them fight.
And when the river finally floods, no amount of political spin can float a sinking ship.
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