Zarzuela?

One scenario in the ongoing political storm is that a game of good cop, bad cop is afoot, with the bad one being... never mind.

- ANA MARIE PAMINTUAN

Another is that President Marcos is genuinely open to mending ties with Vice President Sara Duterte ("never say never," he said), due to the egging of folks who were part of the UniTeam and are now worried about being trampled by the fighting elephants.

In another conciliatory gesture over the weekend, BBM's House allies ordered the release of the VP's beloved chief of staff Zuleika Lopez, whose transfer to the Correctional Institution for Women (hastily aborted) made the VP go ballistic.

Still another scenario is that VP Sara's impeachment is truly dead, but her legal prosecution for multiple offenses is very much alive. Also, the International Criminal Court (ICC) might include her in arrest warrants, to be coursed through the Interpol.

As of the weekend, the VP had not commented on BBM's marching order to his super majority allies in the House of Representatives to focus on more important concerns and not waste time impeaching his estranged UniTeam running mate.

The VP's silence is fueling speculation that her camp suspects BBM to be simply acting to distance himself as his House allies led by his favorite cousin go for the jugular and proceed with her impeachment.

VP Sara, who may not relish reversing anytime soon her comment that her ties with BBM have reached a "point of no return," said only that she could have already been president in 2022.

Surely her father's thoughts exactly; Rodrigo Duterte must've muttered "I told you so" under his breath a million times already since the 2022 election results showed Sara getting even more votes than BBM.

So, was BBM's "don't impeach" message real, or merely part of a zarzuela?