Trust Leni, tolerate Marcos, impeach Sara?

With Bam Aquino and Kiko Pangilinan's return to the Senate following the midterm polls, there are lessons to learn ahead of the 2028 general elections.

Former vice president and Naga City mayor-elect Leni Robredo's endorsement of Benhur Abalos and Manny Pacquiao came as a surprise to some voters.

Abalos is, after all, a political dynasty in Mandaluyong City, while the homophobe Pacquiao is an infamous absentee senator. Both were endorsed by President Marcos.

Explaining her endorsement of Abalos, Robredo said he has been helping Naga in times of calamity. Pacquiao is "kind and trustworthy," she said.

On social media, some voters squabbled if it would have been strategic to vote for Abalos and Pacquiao; if there is merit to setting aside principles to achieve the end goal of convicting impeached Vice President Sara Duterte — an age-old purists and pragmatics debacle.

No.

With their neutral or flip-flopping politics, Abalos and Pacquiao's roles in the Senate, which will act as an impeachment court, are moot.

Robredo's endorsement does not mean they will convict Sara, nor will they champion progressive policies.

Marcos' endorsement, meanwhile, holds little power: his approval and trust ratings have plummeted, all five Dutertes seeking local posts in Davao City won and the progressive Akbayan reigned supreme among other party-list groups.

While Marcos is decent unlike his pro-China predecessor, his presidency is proving to be lackluster amid his attempts to subsidize P20-a-kilo rice using people's money, anomalies with the state health insurer's transfer of P89.9-billion funds to the national treasury and illegal insertions in the 2025 budget.

Only five members of the Marcos-backed Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas won Senate seats.

Rough estimates show that of the 12 new and 12 incumbent senators of the 20th Congress, seven are likely to acquit the Vice President.

Nine votes are needed to acquit her of graft and corruption, among others.

(WATCH: Rappler's Dwight de Leon breaks down VP Sara's acquittal numbers in Senate impeach trial after midterm polls)

If youth and progressive voters opted to also vote for Abalos and Pacquiao, would it really be a pragmatic decision?

Securing reelection at the 11th and 12th spots are Senators Lito Lapid and Imee Marcos.

Their roles at the impeachment court are questionable. Imee, despite her attempts at befriending the Dutertes, is still the President's sister. Lapid is... he's just there, your good ole' balimbing.

Much like Imee, there is no assurance that Abalos and Pacquiao would convict the Vice President.

Even detained former president Rodrigo Duterte's ally Sen. Bong Go is questionable due to a speculated rift between him and Sara.

With these points in mind, Robredo's endorsement should be regarded as it is: an appreciation of politicians who helped the people of Naga. Nothing more.

What's pragmatic and strategic, arguably, is focusing on getting more votes for candidates like former audit commissioner Heidi Mendoza — an independent bet who got over eight million votes.

Kakampinks, the united grassroots movement in the 2022 general election, should not be expected to contribute much to Sara's conviction. Decades of messy liberals in power are still raw in the minds of Filipinos.

Plus, the 2022 election is a reminder that voters with an "us versus them," "we're smart, you're not," or "kabutihan laban sa kasamaan (good vs bad)" mindset will never witness their bets see the light of day. Even Leni's daughter had reminded supporters to be mindful of offensive and elitist remarks.

Campaigning and voting based on principles and policies are still the way to go. Making sacrifices by choosing the "lesser evil" is unnecessary.

Kiko and Bam did not expect their placement in the top five. Heidi's over eight million votes are not just Kakampinks. Some of my neighbors who voted for Duterte's minions said they also shaded Heidi's name, describing her as a smart candidate worthy of a government post.

Same with the 2022 polls, the legitimate opposition needs to present a more united front and a solid lineup that leaves no room for undervoting. That lineup should be inviting to sway voters and agreeable even to the far Left.

That end goal of convicting Sara is best left at the hands of President Marcos, who is at fault for failing to deliver numbers and favorable outcomes. His administration's shortcomings allowed the Dutertes to remain influential, with their diehard supporters spreading disinformation; thinking that perhaps this country is better off with a Duterte at the helm.

If the Marcos administration is hoping to unite with the legit opposition to prevent the worst outcome in 2028, then they should do the heavy lifting.

And if Marcos is open to reconciling with the Dutertes, he will soon realize that his efforts come at a cost: that he is not in a position of power to negotiate, eventually bringing his family's political comeback story to its end.

Photo: Former vice president Leni Robredo with Senator-elect Bam Aquino.