We have already read and heard  the news  from the relatives of Senator Raffy Tulfo that he has no plans to run for the presidency in 2028. We have to respect that decision.

But let me share something else. 

They say the truth hurts, but in Philippine politics, the possibility of a specific truth hurts even more. Recently, I shared an observation on Facebook  that Senator Raffy Tulfo — armed with 30 million YouTube subscribers and a “tough-guy” persona that resonates with a frustrated electorate — is a formidable contender for the presidency. The reaction was swift, massive, sharp — and many were negative reactions.

But after 1.6 million views and nearly 10,000  comments, I realized something: the anger wasn’t really directed at me. It was a symptom of a deeper, more systemic panic.

The backlash revealed a stark reality. Many Filipinos are exhausted by the allegations of corruption and the cloud of impeachment trailing Vice President Sara Duterte. Yet, those same people find the idea of a “President Tulfo” unacceptable. This creates a “Neither-Nor” vacuum, a space where people know what they don’t want, but have no consensus on what they do want.

The criticism against my post was effectively a confession of frustration. By dismissing Tulfo, the public is forced to face the current state of the opposition.

While many still hope for a Leni Robredo return, her current focus as mayor of Naga City suggests a leader who has found peace in local service rather than the “resolve” for another grueling national battle.

Senator Risa Hontiveros remains the moral compass of the opposition, but the “passion” of the comments suggests voters are still searching for that elusive, mass-appeal “X-factor” that can break through the noise of populism.

But who else?

The most common rebuttal I received was that I should have “suggested someone else.” But that’s the point: I wasn’t making a wish; I was stating a fact. 

In our current political landscape, a “Knight in Shining Armor” or a “New Queen of Politics” doesn’t just appear because we want them to. Winning requires a collision of machinery, timing, and — like it or not — the kind of digital footprint that 30 million subscribers provide. If the reaction to my post was “unprecedented rage,” it’s because my observation acted as a mirror. It forced people to see that, at this moment, the opposition is divided and lacks a viable, battle-ready alternative to the status quo.

If there is any comfort to be found in 1.6 million views of mostly “disagreement,” it is this: The passion is still there. People aren’t indifferent; they are desperate for a choice they can actually believe in.

However, desperation is not a strategy. If those who disagreed with me want to avoid the “inevitability” of the names they dislike, they must move past the idealism of waiting for a perfect candidate. We need to stop waiting for a savior and start building a viable alternative.

My post was a trigger point. I like  to believe that it made people talk about an alternative, even if they did not like the one I presented. Now, the burden is not on the observers to suggest a better name — the burden is on the political leaders to become one. Until then, the math of 30 million subscribers and a “tough-guy” brand remain a reality that no amount of angry commenting can erase. 

But as I have said at the outset, Senator Raffy Tulfo, at least at the moment, has no intention, much more plan, in running for the Presidency. The only viable alternative right now is gone. – Rappler.com

Mel Sta. Maria is former dean of the Far Eastern University (FEU) Institute of Law. He teaches law at FEU and the Ateneo School of Law, hosts shows on both radio and YouTube, and has authored several books on law, politics, and current events.