Sara Visits Leni: A Case of the Devil Looking Like an Angel

In politics, or in any other field, one’s behavior reflects one’s character. Thus, when a shady politician decides to perform an act in a desperate effort to redeem himself or herself, a critical way of assessing that act is appropriate, if we do not want to miss the forest for the trees.

Vice President Sara Duterte is a case in point.

During the feast of Our Lady of Penafrancia in Naga City last month, Sara visited Vice President Leni Robredo in her home. It was probably their first face-to-face meeting. According to reports, the two women, opposite and even antagonistic in their political beliefs, discussed only personal matters for an hour.

A firestorm ensued. Former Senator Antonio Trillanes criticized Leni suggesting that her meeting with Sara was unacceptable.

“Ma’am Leni,” explained Trillanes, “we even want VP Sara impeached. She was rude to Senator Risa. Why did you meet with her? Are you siding with her? However you looked at it, that meeting was wrong.”

Defending Leni, former spokesman Barry Gutierrez said, “Leni was informed of the visit only minutes before when she was told that VP Sara was already on the way.”

Responding to criticisms, Leni maintains that “During the Penafrancia, there are no political colors. Everyone is politically neutral. Everyone who visits for ‘Ina’ is welcome here with us. Ever since my husband became mayor in 1988, it had always been like this. Every time a guest goes to Naga with the intent of visiting ‘Ina’ he or she is very much welcome here.”

I have always been skeptical – judgmental at times – of politicians who have not shown respect for the rule of law, who refuse to be transparent or accountable for how they spend the people’s money, or who defend to high heavens political or religious personalities with questionable character.

Thus, it is highly suspicious, given the current political morass that Sara is in, that she would initiate a meeting with Leni only to talk about personal matters. Besides, they are not even friends, I believe. The question, therefore, that many are asking is: What was in it for Sara to meet with Leni?

For sure, Leni had nothing to gain in meeting with Sara. It simply showed that she was indeed a shining example of graciousness and decency. She would never embarrass a visiting vice president whose motive was suspect. Remember, it was Sara who once called Leni a fake vice president. And now, suddenly, Sara had a change of heart toward Leni?

Let’s face it. Sara is under intense criticism by the public for her chaotic and rude performance during the August 27 budget hearing in Congress. She adamantly refused to answer questions related to the Commission on Audit’s notice of disallowance of Php73M against her office. Instead, she shamelessly attacked the legislators and accused them of plotting for her impeachment. What a brat, some political observers concluded.

When she resigned as secretary of the Department of Education, she left what Inquirer.net described as a “legacy of unresolved issues” that included lack of textbooks and teachers, delays in the delivery of Nutribun bread to school children, corruption in the procurement in 2023 of overpriced laptops, unauthorized bank accounts containing P362.8 million being kept by the Office of the Secretary and several school division offices, etc.

It seems reasonable, therefore, to conclude that Sara’s reputation as a former Secretary of the Department of Education and as a Vice President is tarnished by allegations of incompetence and corruption. That said, Sara is in dire need of favorable optics to project a good image. a different persona never seen by many.

Things have gotten worse for Sara lately and she saw that Leni was the answer to her predicament. Simply put, Sara took advantage of a religious celebration and masterfully crafted a plan using Leni to sanitize herself.

She even joined the other devotees queuing to pay their respects to the Blessed Virgin – a good opportunity for a photo op for the purpose of favorable publicity. What happened was a clear case of the devil doing everything to look like an angel.

Shame. Shame. Shame.