“Perfect timing. Now that the First Lady is deãd, the nation should also be informed of the president’s passing. You and your people can be depended on.”
The authorities work the crime scene of where President Hidalgo’s family had been found wounded. They had been taken to the hospital for treatment. Vargas and General Borja hope that they survive so they could help out in their investigation. The media have a field day with the tragic incident. At the hospital, a team of surgeons operated on Aubrey and Marissa separately.
Cardo and his comrades deliberate on the several ãttaçks on the First Family and come to realize that it had all been carefully planned out. Cardo states that he could only save the president because the rest of his family were severely wounded. The group then began to wonder about the person who had instigated the ãttaçks. Ramil notes that all their questions would be answered now that the president is with them.
General Terante roughs up the goon who had failed to carry out the mission he had given him. The news of the ãttaçk on the president and his family is reported on TV and the Vendetta is linked to the incident on account of a CCTV footage that had captured their presence near the university. The Arevalos and Dalisays worry about the safety of Cardo and Alyana.
The rotten VP Cabrera refuses to let General Borja and his men provide security for the First Lady and her children. He accuses Delfin of trying to cover up for Cardo and his group and Delfin shôòts back at him, saying that the real perpetrators who had committed the despiçable ãttaçk might just be waiting for the opportunity to finish what they started.
While Cardo and the Vendetta strive to get the wounded president back to their hideout safely to be treated, the doctor comes to inform Lucas that Yohan and Gracey were pronounced deãd on arrival. Lucas feigns concern and asks about the Marissa and Aubrey, and the doctor reveals that they’re both in very critical conditions. Lucas continues to put on a show while giving Delfin the evil eye.
Lucas goes to see Marissa and silently notes that it would be better for her to dīê than to survive and come to know of what had befallen her family. Hipolito comes over to rant about Oscar being in Cardo’s custody. Though Terante had promised to finish the job, Hipolito states that it would be impossible. Speaking of, Terante continues to unleash his frustration on the goon.
Terante has the poor guy dumped in a drum and lights him on fire. He makes it clear to the rest of his men that they too would suffer such fate if they ever mess up on a job. In the meantime, Cardo and the Vendetta finally arrive at their hideout with the wounded president and our favorite hero urges Nico to do whatever is necessary to save Oscar’s life.
Lucas receives a phone call from Terante who tells him that he has a body that they could use as the president’s. He would work out the DNA and other evidence with the crime lab to prove that it is indeed the corpse of President Hidalgo. Lucas gladly agrees to the plan and reminds him of what he must do should he find the whereabouts of the president.
“If Vendetta has him, dispose of all of them.”
“Yes, Mr. President,” Terante states.
Hipolito worries about the plan to fake the president’s dëāth being risky and Lucas tells him that they don’t have a choice because it’s the only way for him to assume power.
“But what if Oscar turns up alive?”
“For the meantime, in the public’s mind, Oscar’s dëád.”
Hipolito congratulates Lucas grudgingly. At the hideout, Alyana asks the guys about what had happened and they recount the ãttaçks on the president’s family. Efren notes that the one behind everything might want to seize the power of the presidency. Earthworm curses them for how they hadn’t even spared the president’s family.
While Nico continues to treat Oscar, Lucas announces and accuses the Vendetta of being responsible for what had happened to the president and his family. In front of the press, he vows to annihilate the group to restore ‘peace’ and give ‘justice’ to the First Family. Grandma Flora is distressed as she watches the live broadcast with her family. The Arevalos also watch at home.
“What’s happening to our country?” Virgie remarks. “Even the children are being k!lled.”
“But I don’t understand why,” JP chimes in.
“Someone wants to grab power,” Teddy declares.
Nick watches over the president after taking out all the bûllēts in his body. Oscar is still unconscious and nursing a high fever due to an infection caused by the bullets. On this note, Diana and Nico would observe him 24/7 to see if his condition worsens. In the meantime, Teddy decides to use his typewriter again to expose what is actually going on in the country.
The members of the Vendetta consider looking for another place to hide with the president, and Efren reassures them that they would be safe in the neighborhood because all their neighbors can be trusted. The next morning, Nico checks Oscar’s temperature and gladly informs Cardo and the others that his fever is almost gone and the infection is subsiding. Cardo hopes that he recovers soon.
Some representatives from the Palace come to handle the funeral arrangements for Yohan and Gracey but Lucas insists on taking care of it himself. He says he owes it to Oscar because he’s like a brother to him and Yohan and Grace were like his own kids. This man’s wickedness knows no bounds. Anyway, Marissa relives the ãttaçk on her family and suffers a cardiac arrest.
The attempts of the doctors to revive the First Lady proves futile. While Chikoy informs General Borja and the others about the bad news, Lucas goes to see Marissa’s deãd body. In no time, he goes on air again and dehumanizes the Vendetta while announcing the dëåths of Yohan, Grace and Marissa. The despicable vice president puts on a show of how close and fond he was with Grace and Yohan. Hipolito and Homer’s group watch the live broadcast.
“Grace was very fond of hugging me. Yohan would remind me of my youth. He had big dreams. But those dreams have all been shattered. Do not allow the evil ways of the Vendetta to triumph. Even the innocent children, including our First Lady, were ruthlessly k!lled by this group.”
Homer turns off the TV and along with his group, he claps for Lucas, amazed that he had been able to fòöl the public and gain the their sympathy. Hipolito states that they have to be good actors in order to convince Lucas that they’re still on his side. Homer gives Hipolito a look, silently gloating over how he and his men have already fööled him into believing that they’re still on his side.
Efren expresses his disgust over the despicable deed that had been done to the president. The Vendetta worry about how the country’s situation might worsen without a sitting president, and General Olegario states that if it is established that the president is dead, the chief justice would swear in a new president. In this situation, it’s the vice president who would be sworn in as the new president.
The Vendetta deliberate on the possibility of Lucas being the mastermind behind what had happened to the president’s family. At the hospital, Lucas assures Hipolito that it wouldn’t take long for Aubrey to follow her mother and siblings because she’s in a deep coma. In her hospital room, Aubrey subconsciously begins to move her fingers. Soon enough, Lucas receives a phone call from Terante.
“Perfect timing. Now that the First Lady is deãd, the nation should also be informed of the president’s passing.”
“I’m going to tip off the PNP,” Terante mentions.
“Thanks, General. You and your people can be depended on.”
General Borja charges his men to keep a watchful eye on Aubrey so the enemy doesn’t get the chance to make another attempt on her life. The rotten VP Cabrera shows up and insists that he leave Aubrey’s protection in the hands of the PSG. Lucas makes it clear that they don’t want his involvement because of his connection to Cardo and the Vendetta.
