THIS is a free country, and it would be hard to tell a politician to simply just shut up. But sometimes, opening one's mouth could be a dangerous thing for those who would like to solicit the support of the people.

Vice President Sara Duterte has become very verbal recently, particularly when she criticizes the administration of her former boss and unity ticket partner, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. This is in sharp contrast from when her political card played the gift of silence, in her repeated 'no comment' replies, or when she passed on the task of answering questions to her underlings when she was still education secretary.