THE year 2024 has witnessed one of the most dramatic shifts in Philippine politics: the unraveling of the once-powerful political alliance that dominated the 2022 elections, leading to a historic landslide victory.
President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte's alliance, known as "UniTeam," resulted in a messy breakup due to supposed personal grievances, policy disagreements, and political maneuvering.
Here's a rundown on the fall of the supposed formidable alliance.
P.I. controversy
The news of the supposed plan to change the constitution surfaced in January this year when officials close to Marcos allegedly lobbied for the People’s Initiative (PI) in the form of a signature campaign.
This campaign was questioned by allies of former president Rodrigo Duterte for allegedly using taxpayers’ money to persuade Filipinos to sign the petition.
A prayer rally was staged in Davao City on January 28, signifying the Duterte supporters' disgust with this move.
It was during this time that Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte called for Marcos' resignation stating that he only cared about his personal agenda.
The former president also accused First Lady Liza Marcos and House Speaker Martin Romualdez of being key figures behind this "fraud" P.I.
A fragile alliance
Despite the ongoing political turmoil, the "Uniteam" allies were still seen together in key events.
Prior to attending the prayer rally in Davao City in the evening, Sara attended the "Bagong Pilipinas" kick-off rally at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila.
Marcos on February 7, 2024, attended various government activities in Davao City, the bailiwick of the former president, whom he had exchanged accusations with related to the use of illegal drugs.
In an interview, Marcos said the so-called “Uniteam” coalition is still intact and functional.
Escalating threats
The Vice President revealed she believes she is being attacked by “sectors within the circle of the President.
In a recent video statement, Sara strongly condemned the escalating "black propaganda" directed at her, characterizing it as a coordinated and malicious effort to tarnish her integrity.
The Vice President labeled these attacks “more intense, outrageous, and desperate.”
She pointed to various instances, such as controversies surrounding confidential funds, traffic disruptions on Commonwealth Avenue, security arrangements for her office, and accusations of her involvement in the Davao Death Squad (DDS).
Sara also addressed allegations of receiving guns from Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy and attempts to undermine her marital relationship.
Liza-Sara rift
The first lady revealed in a tell-all online interview in April this year that her relationship with the Vice President has soured since the latter's father accused her husband of using narcotics.
Marcos' wife added that Sara had "crossed the line" when she was seen laughing when the president was being called "bangag" during the prayer rally.
"When she went to Davao, (Rodrigo) Duterte said o 'bangag, bangag di ba.' Imagine a former president calling ano bangag. Wow 'yung 6 years why would you call ano bangag di ba and then the camera panned on her tumatawa," Liza said.
The First Lady admitted she was hurt by the incident, noting the former president even insinuated that her son, Senior Deputy House Majority Leader Sandro Marcos, wanted to become prime minister.
Sara, at that time, declined to comment, saying she respected the first lady's opinion.
Sara resigns from Marcos Cabinet
The rumored fallout was fueled even more when the vice president announced her resignation as Education secretary on June 19, 2024, rendering a one-month transition period.
She also resigned as the vice chairperson of the National Task Force to End Local Communism Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac) effective July 19, 2024.
The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) nor Sara declined to comment on her reason.
A week before her resignation announcement, the vice president, during the 126th Independence Day commemoration in Davao City, said the UniTeam no longer exists for "we are not candidates anymore."
President Marcos said he has not spoken to Duterte since June, when she handed him over her resignation.
Skipping Sona
After resigning as Department of Education (DepEd) secretary, she distanced herself from the Marcoses, starting with her absence during the president's third State of the Nation Address (Sona) on July 22, 2024.
Sara claimed to have appointed herself the "designated survivor", a term she did not elaborate but is related to a contingency plan in the United States presidential line of succession. During Marcos' Sona, she went to Bohol for Bohol Day and attended the wake of Bohol Vice Governor Dionisio Victor Balite, who died on July 17.
Stripping off VP's security
A day after Marcos' Sona, the Philippine National Police (PNP) relieved all 75 police officers previously assigned as Sara’s security, reducing her security from a record-high of around 400 — the most for any Philippine vice president in history.
Despite the recall, she still retains over 300 security personnel, more than those assigned to Marcos.
She described the recall as “a clear case of political harassment” and accused PNP Chief Rommel Marbil of lying.
Marbil added that the recall was due to the absence of security threats against her and denied any "political pressure" influencing the decision.
Controversial trip
On July 24, 2024, Sara left the country for Germany for a personal trip with her mother, husband, and children some hours prior to the southwestern monsoon, enhanced by Typhoon Gaemi (locally called Carina), which caused significant rainfall and affected Luzon.
She received the travel authority from the Office of the President on July 9. The OVP noted that while the trip's timing was unfortunate, the Disaster Operations Center remained ready to aid those affected by the typhoon, including a relief operation in Quezon City.
Duterte revealed that during her trip to Germany, she spent her time with family and met with the Filipino community group Hakbang ng Maisug International Germany (HMIG) in Munich.
Her departure was criticized by netizens and Representative Edcel Lagman (Albay–1st) for perceived insensitivity during the crisis, though Senator Imee Marcos defended her, stating that Duterte didn't know that there would be a storm.
‘Budget manipulation’
Sara then cited the manipulation of the national budget by House Speaker Martin Romualdez, a cousin of the Marcoses, and House Committee on Appropriations chairperson Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Zaldy Co as one of the reasons for her resignation.
On August 7, 2024, Sara also publicly criticized the Marcos government and the House of Representatives over issues such as failures in disaster management, policing, healthcare reform, and the possible involvement of the International Criminal Court in investigating the Philippine drug war spearheaded by her father as president.
'We are not friends'
In an interview with reporters on September 18, 2024, Sara said she was never friends with Bongbong. Instead, it is Senator Imee Marcos whom she has close ties with as she has known her since 2012.
She even regretted endorsing Marcos during the 2022 national elections during an event at the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) compound when the KOJC leader was being hunted by authorities for cases of child abuse, sexual abuse, and human trafficking.
Marcos said on October 11, 2024, that he felt “deceived” when he believed that he and Vice President Sara Duterte were friends.
On October 18, 2024, Sara held a press conference at her office, where she discussed her fallout with Marcos, claiming he "does not know how to be president" and has led the country "on the road to hell." She also revealed that she once told Imee that if attacks against her persisted, she would exhume former President Ferdinand Marcos' remains and throw them in the West Philippine Sea.
'Threats' against PBBM
The tension even escalated when Sara, in an expletive-laced Zoom presser, claimed to have spoken with a contract killer to target President Marcos, his wife Liza, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez in the event of her assassination, which the administration deemed an "active threat" against the government.
She made the statement in response to a vlogger's question during a midnight press conference initiated by her detained chief of staff Zuleika T. Lopez via Zoom at a detention facility at the Batasang Pambansa Complex.
At the time, Duterte had been resisting the transfer of Lopez by House authorities to the Correctional Institution for Women.
Sara recently clarified that her remarks were not serious threats but rather a reflection of her fear for her personal safety after hearing threats against her.
Marcos pledged to prevent any "criminal attempts," but in response, Sara stated she would not overlook the actions of the Marcos administration against her. She also claimed that the Marcos family was behind the assassination of former senator Ninoy Aquino.
Romualdez called Sara’s claim of hiring a contract killer a direct threat to democracy. He also referred to the threat as "alarming and unprecedented."
On November 26, 2024, the National Bureau of Investigation issued a subpoena to Sara regarding her alleged assassination threat.
Marcos, for the first time, hit back at Sara, saying things would not have gone sour if she had cooperated during the budget hearings. He said the Vice President should be made accountable for her statements, as any assassination attempt against the President also raises concerns about the security of the nation and its citizens.
PBBM: No to VP's impeachment
Despite this, the President said he did not want Congress to pursue impeachment complaints against the Vice President as it would just be a waste of time. He said Sara was "unimportant" and trying to impeach her would just distract the government from serving Filipinos.
"What will happen if somebody files an impeachment? It will tie down the House, it will tie down the Senate," he said.
"It will just take up all our time, and for what? For nothing, for nothing. None of this will help improve a single Filipino life," he added.
President Marcos likewise said that he was still open to reconciling with Vice President Sara even though the latter stated she would never return to the administration.
"Never say never," Marcos responded when asked if he had reached a point of no return with Sara.
The vice president, however, said she doesn't want to work with Bongbong anymore, nor teaming up with the Marcoses: "Never again." RGL