IN PHILIPPINE politics, staying in power is not just about dominance—it is about knowing when to shift alliances and rebrand identities. In a system where narrative often trumps policy, public sympathy becomes a vehicle for political gain, and crisis becomes an opportunity to consolidate power. Consequently, politicians rise not solely through platforms, but on carefully crafted personas, deployed at the most strategic times.
Such political showmanship is especially evident during elections, which have become less about platforms and more about dominating the narrative—through emotional appeal, name recall, or public visibility. With media stunts reinforcing this strategy, politicians go unpunished for contradictions in their statements or actions. Instead, they are rewarded with votes for their charisma, timing, and ability to shape public perception.
These opportunist tactics in government may manifest through political butterflies such as Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso. Between 2006 to 2021, he became a member of the Nacionalista Party, Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino, United Nationalist Alliance, National Unity Party, and Aksyon Demokratiko Party, successively.
During the Kapisanan ng Brodkaster ng Pilipinas Presidential Forum in 2022, he openly admitted that politicians like him perceive parties as vehicles for securing an electoral seat. “Siyempre gusto ng mga kandidato katulad ng mga kasama ko rito na gusto rin nilang manalo so kailangan [may] masakyan tayong sasakyan (Of course, candidates like my colleagues here want to win too, so we need to use some sort of vehicle) and the law allows it,” he stated.
Political butterflies could also take the form of turncoats, whose loyalties depend on the center of power. At present, critics claim Senator Imee Marcos as such, citing her loyalty to Duterte as a deliberate move to forward her political agenda. Last March 26, she withdrew from Alyansa, the coalition supported by the president—her brother—for the 2025 midterm elections.
However, this strategy may not be working in her favor. Political scientist Cleve Arguelles told ANC 24/7 that Senator Marcos is losing voters despite aligning with the Dutertes, failing to enter Pulse Asia’s probable winner’s circle post-arrest surveys.
“In Filipino terms, namamangka siya sa dalawang ilog (rowing a boat on two rivers at the same time) and that’s not really working for her as seen in the numbers,” Arguelles stated.
On the other hand, the effects of Duterte’s allies’ promotion to vote straight for Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Laban after his arrest can be seen in latest surveys. A March 23 to 29 Pulse Asia poll showed that Senator Bong Go is still leading the senatorial race, while fellow Duterte-endorsed candidate Senator Bato Dela Rosa also saw an increase in numbers. Despite these figures, Arguelles expressed that poverty, healthcare, and education are still the major concerns of Filipinos for the 2025 midterm elections.
Ultimately, the poll outcomes reflect a nuanced view on opportunism. As highly politicized issues may not necessarily secure survival, it does not disregard its capacity to influence the race.
