Pubmat by Adrianne Coloma

by Kiera De Guzman

Politics has become a spectacle.

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines a spectacle as “something exhibited to view as unusual, notable or entertaining.” This has become embarrassingly true in the Philippines as every week brings a new controversy: impeachment proceedings, Senate leadership disputes, arrest warrants, corruption, and political alliances shifting before the public eye. Countless news articles are released every day, headlines constantly change but the pattern seems to always remain the same. 

As if watching a circus, so many acts are unfolding at once that the audience, or in this case, the Filipino people, can barely keep track. Yet amid the constant spectacle, the public is left struggling to distinguish performance from accountability. 

And as we continue to watch the drama unfold, one question grows louder — are our institutions serving justice and accountability, or are they becoming stages for political drama? 

The Main Act: Politics and Power

Recent events have exposed deep cracks in the country’s political institutions, with corruption being one of the most persistent issues fueling the challenges Filipinos face today. While corruption itself is not a new challenge, the controversies that are unfolding reveal how deeply questions of transparency and accountability remain embedded in Philippine politics. 

Perhaps no issue illustrates this more clearly than the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte. With a total of 4 impeachment complaints which cite  betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, bribery and other high crimes under Article XI, Section 2 of the 1987 Constitution.

Yet despite this being the second impeachment trial of Duterte, and after months of proceedings and public discussion, it seems as if meaningful progress has yet to be made. 

What was intended to be a constitutional process for determining accountability has instead become the center of intense political debate, raising questions not only about the allegations themselves, but also about the ability of the country’s institutions to carry out their duties free from political influence. 

The same concerns emerge in the case of Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa. For months, the senator remained out of public view as reports of an ICC arrest warrant circulated, only to reappear when political circumstances demanded it. 

But as they say, no circus is complete without a disappearing act, for just as quickly as he reappeared, he vanished once more following the chaos that unfolded inside the Senate compound, where reports of gunfire and chaos only added to the growing political drama. What followed resembled less of a legal process and more of a nationwide game of cat and mouse; complete with Senate refuge, search operations, and a public chase that dominated headlines. 

Yet the controversy surrounding Senator dela Rosa extends far beyond one individual. His disappearance, reappearance, and absence once again have exposed a deeper divide within the Senate itself.  The minority bloc openly called on dela Rosa to surrender and urged the Senate to respect the legal process, while debates over protective custody and Senate intervention intensified tensions between opposing factions.

And while the public follows the latest headlines on the hunt for a senator, the newest clash between the majority and minority blocs, or the next development in the impeachment trial, it seems as if our politicians and senators are doing anything but the job they were elected to do.  

Whether one believes the majority is protecting an ally or simply following its interpretation of the law, the result is the same: public attention is consumed by the drama while accountability remains unresolved. And when accountability is repeatedly delayed, it risks becoming accountability denied. 

What gets lost in the noise? 

This is where the spectacle becomes dangerous. When politics is reduced to a series of dramatic confrontations, accountability risks becoming secondary. Citizens begin following the controversy rather than the outcome. Headlines focus on conflicts and personalities while the public receives fewer answers about whether institutions are functioning effectively or whether allegations are being addressed fairly.

Meanwhile, the challenges faced by ordinary Filipino people remain. Inflation continues to affect households, students continue to face educational inequalities, and communities continue to struggle with inadequate public services. These issues rarely disappear, yet they often receive less attention than the latest political scandal. 

A democracy does not depend on a spectacle, it depends on accountability. These institutions exist not to serve political interests, but to uphold the law and protect public trust. And when public attention becomes consumed by performance, citizens risk losing sight of the very purpose these institutions were created to serve. 

What the country needs is not another spectacle, but a renewed commitment to public service. Because beyond the noise, the question is not who won the latest political battle. The question is whether the Filipino people are any closer to the accountability they deserve.