Ah, the art of political gymnastics—Bam Aquino just pulled off an elegant split, trying to balance between principle and pragmatism, only to land awkwardly on the cold, hard floor of public opinion.

By suggesting that Sara Duterte’s impeachment is a matter for politicians, not voters, he managed to alienate both camps: Duterte critics who wanted a clear stance and administration supporters who were never going to vote for him anyway. Bravo.

In the cutthroat world of Philippine politics, where ambiguity is often mistaken for weakness, Aquino’s “safe” answer was anything but. Did he think voters enjoy being told that major national issues are none of their business?

In a country where political loyalty shifts faster than a TikTok trend, trying to sit on the fence is a surefire way to fall off it. If he keeps this up, he won’t need voters to lose the election—he’ll do it all by himself.