Their thunder stolen

From the looks of it, the made-for-TV hearings in Congress have all but lost their audience after Vice President Sara Duterte stole the thunder from the members of Congress using an unconventional counter-offensive.

- CITO BELTRAN

After the quad comm enjoyed having the number 1 show on radio, TV and online for months, the Vice President's unusual and disturbing behavior has captured the curiosity of the viewing public and the full attention of Philippine media, local and national politicians, as well as international media to boot.

After having the cameras all to themselves, the members of Congress were suddenly "no contest" to the Vice President's fierce, unflinching drama and rhetoric. Like a wizard drawing from her bag of tricks, the Vice President had her enemies and critics running around in circles like cats chasing feather toys on a stick, every time she uttered some curse or spell of sorts.

Most critics were certain that the VP was falling apart, undergoing an emotional or mental illness, or going on self-destruct mode. Others were convinced that she would run back to Davao as the resigned Vice President or eventually be impeached. But it seems that there was a method to the madness behind Sara Duterte's mercurial puzzling antics.

As Garfield the cat is often quoted as saying: "If you can't convince them, confuse them." The VP certainly had all of us confused. Who was plotting to kill the VP? Who did the VP appoint as her afterlife assassin? Why does all of this alleged planned assassinations and plots sound like pages from the life and times and play book of senator Miriam Defensor Santiago when she ran for president?