In a spectacular display of mental gymnastics, pro-Duterte supporters have concocted yet another dazzling conspiracy theory to undermine the Marcos administration. This time, the cancellation of the Maisug Prayer Rally in Tacloban City has been spun into an elaborate tale of airline collusion and sinister airport shenanigans.

According to these theorists, airlines are either canceling flights or hiking up fares to sabotage the rally—because, clearly, these businesses prioritize political vendettas over profit margins.

Meanwhile, airport authorities are supposedly limiting operations to deter rally-goers, never mind the long-publicized runway repairs that started in early May.

Perhaps next, Atty. Genn Chong will claim First Lady Liza Marcos ordered cloud-seeding to rain on their parade, though he might struggle against the inconvenient truth of PAGASA’s weather reports.

Such creative storytelling would be more entertaining if it weren’t so detached from reality. Alas, in the theater of politics, some will always prefer fiction to fact.