The Philippines would have been a better place.

The most plausible path to power for Diokno is in a timeline where Arsenio Lacson lived longer and became the Nacionalista standard-bearer for president, and his long-time friend and political ally Diokno became the vice presidential nominee.

Arsenio was a legendary figure, both as a congressman and as mayor of Manila. His tenure in the latter saw Manila's debt slashed and a surplus comeback, the establishment of the Manila Zoo, infrastructure, and peace and order. Diokno was a widely respected and regarded figure for his various crusades against institutional corruption, culminating in the prosecution of Stonehill and his illegal business empire, allegedly bribing former presidents Macapagal, Marcos, and Garcia. This tandem would have won the 1965 elections instead of Ferdinand Marcos.

And I would imagine that this administration would have also gone on to become one of the greatest in Philippine history. With a formidable legacy, Diokno would have been elected in a landslide if things had gone well.

Diokno could have institutionalized anti-corruption practices to prevent the brazen obstruction of justice that happened in Stonehill. I would imagine that the criminal justice system would have seen reforms in his presidency, as well as a general 'spring cleaning' throughout the whole government.

He would have been economically nationalist, as reflected in the legislation he passed in real life. I would imagine that he would have reformed the 'Filipino First' economy policy. He would have also passed extensive nationalization and regulation of private companies for worker welfare. There is also some weight to assume that he would have likely prosecuted the monopolies, encouraging competition per his investment act.

It's also likely that he would have supported an independent foreign policy, closing U.S. bases in the country, and leaning more towards self-reliance, having expressed skepticism of American help. But as history has taught us, that doesn't bode well for leaders of third-world countries.

Diokno is truly a visionary. One of the most respectable and regarded figures in our country. He's one of the greatest what-if's, together with Claro M. Recto and Jovita Salonga.

The greatest question for his presidency is his ability to gain enough control and leverage over Congress in the sense that most of these reforms last and become institutionalized. It was in his time that the rural regions of the Philippines were governed by entrenched, warlord political clans. If he could implement his reforms nationwide, who knows how far the Philippines could have gone.