The once powerful UniTeam alliance, instrumental in elevating President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte to their current positions, has disintegrated, according to Sen. Koko Pimentel. The rift became apparent following former President Rodrigo Duterte’s scathing remarks against Marcos, suggesting he might face a downfall similar to his late father, Ferdinand Marcos Sr., especially if he attempts to amend the 1987 Constitution.
Sen. Pimentel, in his interview with TeleRadyo Serbisyo, lamented the squandered potential of the UniTeam, recognizing President Marcos’s initial advantages, including a supportive vice president, a considerable senate majority, and a relative steering the House of Representatives. “It’s like a gift from God, for his administration. I’m disappointed because they didn’t preserve it. They didn’t take advantage of it,” Pimentel expressed.
The recent turmoil within the Senate and the House of Representatives, especially concerning a contentious people’s initiative aimed at revising the Constitution, underscored the alliance’s crumbling unity. The initiative, allegedly endorsed by Speaker Martin Romualdez, proposes a joint voting mechanism for charter amendments, potentially diminishing the Senate’s influence.
Adding to the political storm, former President Duterte’s recent warning against the initiative and his allegations against Marcos have sparked widespread concern. Duterte accused Marcos of being a drug user, a claim that Pimentel did not find surprising, recalling similar statements during the presidential campaign. However, ex-Dangerous Drugs Board chairman Dionisio Santiago countered Duterte’s assertions, clarifying the rigorous validation process involved in the drug watchlist, and confirmed that Marcos was never listed in the National Drug Information System.