The current political landscape in the Philippines presents a paradoxical alignment: elements of the Pink (Leni Robredo supporters) and Yellow (Aquino/Liberal Party) factions appear, at times, to be tacitly supporting the administration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. (BBM). However, interpreting this as genuine, ideological support is fundamentally misguided. This alignment is entirely strategic, temporary, and driven by a classic “enemy of my enemy” calculation.
The Myth of “Uni-Pink” Support: A Tactical Alignment
The core truth remains that the Pink and Yellow factions are among the fiercest critics of the Marcos administration. Their opposition is centered on issues of corruption, historical revisionism, and the drug-related controversies that continue to plague the current government. The notion of a “Uni-Pink”—a merged Marcos- Pink/Yellow alliance—is largely a manufactured political narrative. The perceived backing is not based on ideology but is a pragmatic maneuver in a high-stakes political conflict.
The Existential Threat: The Duterte Factor
The primary and immediate driver of the Pink/Yellow’s strategic maneuvering is the formidable threat posed by the Duterte political machine, led by former President Rodrigo Duterte and his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte.
For many among the Pinks and Yellows, the Dutertes represent a more significant and immediate danger to democratic institutions, human rights, and the rule of law. Pinks and Yellows view Rodrigo Duterte’s legacy of a violent “drug war” and authoritarian rhetoric, and a possible Sara Duterte’s presidency as the preeminent peril facing the country.
Consequently, when the Marcos and Duterte camps engage in political infighting—over issues like confidential funds, Charter Change (Cha-Cha), or control over political bodies—the Pinks and the Yellows often finds itself quietly rooting for the Marcos side. This is not an endorsement of BBM, but a pragmatic calculation: any action that weakens the Duterte political machine serves the Pink/Yellow’s goal of reclaiming power.
The Nightmare Scenario: Preventing a Sara Duterte Succession
A major calculus informing the Pink/Yellow’s restraint is the specter of presidential succession. Should President Marcos Jr. be successfully ousted or incapacitated prematurely—whether through impeachment, a coup, or a massive public revolt—the constitutional successor is Vice President Sara Duterte.
For Pinklawans and Dilawans, a Sara Duterte presidency represents the most immediate nightmare scenario: a continuation, or even intensification, of the perceived authoritarianism and human rights abuses of her father’s term. This fear acts as a political deterrent, causing them to hold back from launching a full-scale, destabilizing offensive against Marcos at this precise moment. The strategy is to maintain the status quo, however messy, to keep the Duterte faction out of the highest office, thus creating a window for the opposition to regroup and challenge both dynasties later.
Fatigue and the “Lesser Evil” Principle
Beyond pure political strategy, the current alignment also reflects a degree of political exhaustion and pragmatism among certain opposition-leaning voters and the upper-middle class.
Following the devastating loss in the 2022 elections, the unified front of the Pinks/Yellows scattered. Weary of perpetual chaos and conflict, a segment of the public appears to tolerate the Marcos administration’s shortcomings in favor of the perceived “stability” it offers, particularly when contrasted with the governance style of the Dutertes. Furthermore, Marcos’s foreign policy—a pivot back toward the United States and a more assertive stance in the West Philippine Sea—aligns with the preferences of many opposition voters and business interests.
Points of Policy Overlap (The “BBM Bonus”)
It is also undeniable that a few of BBM’s policy decisions align with the long-standing demands of the Pinks/Yellows, lending a veneer of credibility to the “lesser evil” argument. These include:
- Foreign Policy Assertiveness: His administration has taken a firm, clear stance against Chinese aggression in the West Philippine Sea, a position long championed by the opposition.
- Diplomatic Re-engagement: The strengthening of alliances with the U.S. and other Western partners is viewed favorably.
- Leila de Lima’s Freedom: The eventual release from detention of former Senator Leila de Lima, a political prisoner and opposition jailed under the Duterte administration, contributed to a sense of guarded optimism among the Pink/Yellow base.
The Unwavering Core: Accountability
The apparent pause in a full-scale offensive against Marcos is not a surrender of ideological ground. The Pink/Yellow factions have not deviated from their core values of accountability from both ruling families.
Protests and social movements continue to demand transparency and justice. In the complex, multi-layered conflict that is Philippine politics, the Pinks/Yellows are currently choosing their battles. The apparent tolerance of the Marcos administration is a strategic calculation: delaying the immediate downfall of one enemy is deemed necessary to prevent the immediate rise of the greater one. They are navigating a super messy political system, not surrendering their ideological ground.