ENDEAVOR

When I was a new father in the early eighties, I bought my pre-school daughter a Snakes and Ladders board game. I did not know this then, I just had an overall sense that, as explained now by Google Search: “The board game Snakes and Ladders, also known as Moksha Patam, was created by the Marathi Saint and Philosopher, Sant Dnyaneshwar, or Jnaneshwar, in the 13th century. He developed the game to teach children about morality and the consequences of their actions. The ladders represent virtues, while the snakes represent vices.”

It is played between two or more players on a gameboard having numbered, gridded squares. A number of "ladders" and "snakes" are pictured on the board, each connecting two specific board squares. The object of the game is to navigate one's game piece, according to die rolls, from the start (bottom square) to the finish (top square), helped or hindered by ladders and snakes respectively.

And yes, for techies, here’s the deal —  “Snakes & Ladders: The Ultimate Multiplayer Online Family Board Game! Experience the classic fun of Snakes & Ladders and Ludo with a thrilling new twist! Roll the dream dice and embark on an exciting adventure across various ludo battlegrounds. The two player online board game to play!”

I’ve decided to adopt the Snakes and Ladders peg in my own effort to make sense of current Philippine events, specifically, those affecting the direction of the impending impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

‘Impending impeachment’ is an apt, alliterative way of framing what vexes my millennial daughter and her peers. This was triggered by Senate President Chiz Escudero’s announcement postponing to June 11 Day 1 of the trial after the meeting of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (Ledac). This body  “was created by virtue of RA 7640 as a consultative and advisory body to the President who chairs the NEDA Board on certain programs and policies essential to the realization of the goals of the national economy.”

From the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur last week, ABS-CBN News quoted President Marcos’ reply to reporters when asked about the impending trial:

“How many times do I have to say that? I didn't want impeachment. Lahat ng kakampi ko sa Kongreso hindi nag-file ng impeachment complaint…Yung mga nag-file ng impeachment complaint, hindi mo masasabing kaya kong utusan o pagsabihan na ito ‘yung gagawin mo. So, why do I have to keep explaining that I didn’t want impeachment?"

Yet, any diligent fact-checker could easily unearth that signatory number one in the House impeachment complaint was Rep. Sandro Marcos, the President’s son, and the leader of the chamber that is constitutionally mandated to initiate an impeachment trial is his first cousin and confidant, Speaker Martin Romualdez.

But, of course, the President as leader could defy all conventional wisdom and assert otherwise.

While the impeachment drama is unfolding, Malacañang is also the venue for another high-stakes spectacle: government reorganization. President Marcos demanded the resignation of all Cabinet members and hinted at a thorough revamp, then even went further by requiring all heads of government corporations to also turn in their resignation letters. Can the public reasonably expect that, in lieu of those whose appointments were part of political payback or largesse, truly qualified people with creditable track records in public office or in business management will be put in place?

The appointments of new Solicitor General Darlene Berberabe and new Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief  Nicolas Torre III are viewed as winds of change fanning the political arena.

Solicitor-General Berberabe sailed through with flying colors during her incumbency as CEO of the Pag-Ibig Fund from 2010 to 2017, a feat recognized by SM Prime in appointing her as an independent director in 2021. Before serving in government, she gave up an option to work for Procter & Gamble in Singapore. Her eminent qualifications were recognized by the Judicial and Bar Council that included her in a shortlist of candidates for an impending vacancy in the Supreme Court.

General Torre is the first Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) graduate to be appointed PNP Chief since its forerunner, the erstwhile Philippine Constabulary (PC) was established in 1901; his predecessors were from the Philippine Military Academy (PMA). The President defied expectations that he would favor another Ilocano. Torre is a native of Marbel (Koronadal City), South Cotabato, and the son of late PC officer Rodolfo Molarto “Dolping” Torre; his mother was a teacher.  He is credited with having led the arrest of  preacher Apollo Quiboloy, long wanted for alleged child and sexual abuse, as well as for qualified human trafficking, in September 2024. Six months later, he attained high-profile exposure when he implemented an Interpol arrest order that resulted in former President Rodrigo Duterte’s transfer to The Hague where he is detained and awaiting trial.

All things considered, the jury is still out. Amid the sound-and-fury buildup in the background, it is well to consider the latest opinion poll results released by well-recognized pollsters.

According to Pulse Asia’s trust ratings in May 2025, here’s how they stack up: Marcos, 32 percent; Sara Duterte, 50 percent; Rodrigo Duterte, 63 percent.

In contrast, according to the results of a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey commissioned by thinktank Stratbase:  “Ninety-three percent of registered Filipino voters are of the opinion that Vice President Sara Duterte should “collaboratively work to prioritize the nation’s needs.” Relatedly, the same survey on Filipinos' post-election expectations conducted among 1,800 registered voters nationwide and with a margin of error of ±2.31 percent, showed that 88 percent think the Vice President should “address the impeachment charges, answer all allegations pertaining to corruption, and clear her name.”

Meanwhile, the social media outlets, most notably Facebook and TikTok, are being flooded by reels that are viewed by smartphone users, many which have been generated by artificial intelligence (AI), that could lull unsuspecting members of the audience into being deceived by fake news.

Above the din, beyond bluff and bluster, it is well for discerning citizens to remain resolute in making fact-based decisions that will affect our future. 

Comments may be sent to [email protected]