Looking back to 2024

In 2024, there were events that have been considered as seismic in their effects on the Philippines and the world.

- ELFREN S. CRUZ

In the Philippines, the biggest political event was the end of the alliance called the UniTeam. When this alliance started, many observers felt it was unlikely to last. Even during the campaign of the UniTeam, former president Rodrigo Duterte continued his barrage of personal attacks against Bongbong Marcos (BBM). The attacks were not just political but also personal, such as his constant accusation that BBM was a user of illegal drugs.

There were many other subsequent major stories the rest of the year but the root cause was the split-up. There were the much-watched quad comm hearings that led to the exposure of alleged illegal transactions in the use of confidential funds by the office of the Vice President. These hearings subsequently revealed that many of the recipients of the confidential funds were actually non-existent persons, like Mary Grace Piattos. Political observers have said that these hearings were actually the first salvo in the coming presidential elections. At this point in time, the two leading presidential contenders are supposedly Vice President Sara Duterte and Speaker Martin Romualdez.