In Philippine politics, the word “pintakasi” has taken on a new and disturbing dimension. Traditionally used to describe a cockfight sponsored by many for a common cause, it now fittingly describes the political spectacle unraveling before our eyes—a temporary and self-serving alliance of long-time political enemies, who have conveniently set aside principle for the sake of vengeance and power consolidation. This is most evident in the recent and growing alliance between two camps once thought to be irreconcilable: the Marcoses and the Liberals.
Yes, you read that right.
Once bitter foes, the political descendants of the late President Cory Aquino and the family of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos have now found common ground. And what is that common ground? Not justice. Not reform. Not a shared national vision. But a common enemy—former President Rodrigo Duterte and his political heirs, particularly Vice President Sara Duterte.
The political “pintakasi” taking place in the House of Representatives reeks of irony, hypocrisy, and political opportunism. Former Senator Leila De Lima and human rights lawyer Chel Diokno—two of the most vocal critics of both the Marcos dictatorship and Duterte’s drug war—have now found themselves aligned with pro-Marcos forces, participating as impeachment prosecutors backed by groups such as Akbayan Partylist. These are figures who once bravely stood on the side of human rights, accountability, and democracy. But today, it appears they are willing to blur the lines of their convictions in exchange for what seems to be a strategic moment of reckoning against the Duterte camp.
Where is the outrage they once held for the massive corruption and human rights abuses committed under the Marcos regime? Where is the consistency in their message when they now walk hand in hand with the very people they once condemned? How can the Filipino people trust their promises of “genuine change” when their actions reflect only a thirst for retaliation?
The Aquino-Marcos alliance in Congress, even if unofficial and carefully packaged as a “coalition for justice,” is nothing short of a political contradiction. This pintakasi is not about the people. It is about eliminating political threats and rewriting legacies. We are witnessing not statesmanship, but political survivalism at its worst.
And it doesn’t stop there.
Members of the once-principled Liberal Party, forged in the fires of resistance against dictatorship, are now helping form a supermajority with administration allies—many of whom are loyalists of the Marcoses—in the effort to block any re-election bid by House Speaker Martin Romualdez, himself a first cousin of President Bongbong Marcos. What began as a movement for justice and people’s empowerment has become a circus of betrayals and double-talk.
This is why our nation is stuck—stuck in the mud of corruption, poverty, unemployment, crime, and deteriorating public services. Because our leaders have once again turned their backs on the promises they made to the people during elections. They campaign on platforms of change and principle, yet morph into power brokers and dealmakers once elected.
This culture of political revenge masquerading as justice is toxic. It reduces national discourse into a series of vendettas. It sidelines urgent issues in favor of elite battles. It insults the memory of those who died for real democracy and justice. And most importantly, it betrays every Filipino who voted for genuine governance, not recycled enmity and backroom deals.
The people deserve better.
We deserve leaders who stand by their convictions, not only when it is convenient. We deserve public servants who work together not because they share an enemy, but because they share a vision for the country. We need political parties that serve platforms, not personalities; values, not vendettas.
Let us be clear: accountability is important. The crimes and abuses committed by any president—be it Marcos, Duterte, or anyone else—must never be forgotten. But justice should never be selective. It must be blind to political loyalties and carried out with integrity. Otherwise, it becomes nothing more than a political tool, a weapon of convenience in a never-ending war for power.
This current political pintakasi is a dangerous game, and the casualties are truth, justice, and the Filipino people.
The question now is: will we continue to watch in silence? Or will we finally demand a new brand of leadership that will put the nation above all personal and partisan agendas?
The clock is ticking. The mud is thick. And the people are watching.