Marcos vs Duterte — political dynasties collide

MY column last week elicited comments on the juicy Cathy Binag and the paramour's exposés on the snorting habits of the first family — particularly of Liza — and Malacañang's inner sanctum. This accusation has been met with deafening silence — except for half-assed denials and attempts at a weak defense by the President's men. This titillated the paramour, now riding high in her newfound notoriety, squeezing the last moments of her 15 minutes of fame, bragging that she is somewhat safeguarded by a coterie of military personnel or ex-military types — and her threat of further disclosures contained in a hundred USBs detailing further interesting vignettes of shenanigans by powerful politicians, to be automatically circulated if something untoward were to happen to her.

These incriminating extracts are the fruit of the 10-year dalliance with lover, former congressman Tony Boy Floirendo, in the corridors of power. He has been reticent through all these. And it could be the right response for a scion of one of Davao's leading families. Or the man is simply intimidated by the proverbial "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned." But to be kind, Tony Boy may just be gentlemanly enough to protect his aggrieved but decent family — a famous wife and hardworking and private children.