In the land of a thousand buzzwords, the latest rage under the Marcos administration seems to be “political harassment.” It’s the new go-to cry, as if everyone got a memo to update their vocabulary.

Ex-Mayor Alice Guo, Atty. Harry Roque, and VP Sara Duterte, all seem to be singing from the same hymn sheet. It’s almost nostalgic how we’ve moved on from the Rodrigo Duterte days when “EJK” and “curtailment of press freedom” were the talk of the town. Back then, there was a certain diversity in grievances, but now, it appears that a synchronized effort is at play. Perhaps they share more than just concerns; a common spokesperson or legal counsel, maybe? One can’t help but wonder if the legal brief came with a template.

In any case, it’s clear that the playbook has evolved, though the script remains as predictable as ever.