FEUDING CLANS TURN UP THE INSULTS
Spectacular falling out between the Marcos and Duterte families is only likely to worsen, analysts say
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr’s tumultuous relationship with his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, is unlikely to improve, analysts say – and it could even worsen, given the firebrand ex-leader’s increasingly virulent attacks on his replacement.
That the two men would clash was inevitable, according to Jean Encinas-Franco, a political analyst from the University of the Philippines Diliman, because the alliance their families made in 2022 was “to win the election at any cost – and that’s it”.
When asked about his relationship with the Duterte family, Marcos admitted at a forum on Tuesday: “It’s complicated”.
Speaking to the Foreign
Correspondents Association of the Philippines, the president said: “The one I have the most contact with is [Vice-President Sara Duterte] – and how we were during the election, [and since then] it hasn’t really changed.”
The families became allies in 2022 when Sara, daughter of ex-president Duterte, joined Marcos’ campaign in what proved to be a winning combination.
Since then, the bond between the two clans has become increasingly fractious – with plenty of invective being hurled at the Marcos family by the former president and his supporters.
On Monday, congressman Pantaleon Alvarez, a Duterte ally, called on the military to withdraw its support for Marcos and force him to resign over his increasingly confrontational stance against Beijing regarding their disputes in the West Philippine Sea – Manila’s term for the section of the South China Sea that outlines its maritime territory and includes its exclusive economic zone.
“Our constitution says the AFP [Armed Forces of the Philippines] shall protect the people and the state, not the president. If we allow the war to explode in the West Philippine Sea, there will be countless dead bodies and unimaginable destruction. Before that happens … I call on the Armed Forces of the Philippines to please withdraw your support to the chief executive … [so he’ll step down],” Alvarez said on Sunday.
The military said it would ask Alvarez to explain his comments. The Department of Defence said it supported Marcos’ constitutional powers and calls for withdrawals of support might result in a “criminal investigation”.
Former congressman Glenn Chong, another Duterte supporter, claimed on Monday at a separate rally that the 2022 election was rigged in Marcos’ favour. Chong said in March he wanted to “slap” the president’s wife, Louise “Liza” Araneta-Marcos, claiming all political appointments were being controlled by the first lady.
During a press conference on Thursday, Duterte called Marcos a “crybaby” for his repeated criticisms of his predecessor’s policy on the West Philippine Sea.
During his visit to Washington last week, Marcos addressed media questions about Duterte’s insults, saying: “I don’t pay any attention to that. That means absolutely nothing to me … the former president is a highly experienced lawyer, he should know that ad hominem attacks like that really have no place.”
His working relationship with Vice-President Sara Duterte appears to have grown tense. After the election, she indicated she wanted to be defence secretary but was given the education portfolio. When she requested 650 million pesos (HK$89 million) in “confidential funds” last year for her office’s discretionary use, she faced intense criticism and withdrew her request. It was later revealed she had received 125 million pesos in confidential funds in 2022, spending it all in 11 days. She was again pilloried, but Marcos did not defend her.
Marcos has criticised Duterte over a recent revelation that the previous administration reached an unwritten agreement with Chinese President Xi Jinping to maintain the status quo in the South China Sea. He said he was “horrified” over the agreement and questioned why it was kept secret from him and others.
In the forum, Marcos said:
“We still have to find out what this is all about. I tried to ask officials of the former administration [but] I haven’t got a straight answer … What is contained in that agreement and what did we agree to? Why do you keep it secret?”
He had not been able to get answers because of “many excuses”, the president said.
Nuelle Duterte, the former president’s niece and a critic of his administration, told the Post that even during the 2022 campaign, she “didn’t think this unity would last, mostly because people hungry for absolute power never really work well together. One side has to win”.
The New Zealand-based psychiatrist said the families had to enter into the alliance because they would have lost the election otherwise.
“It was a strategic alliance, nothing more. Will it last? Likely no, because neither party wants to be the subordinate of the other.”
It was a strategic alliance, nothing more. Will it last? Likely no, because neither party wants to be the subordinate of the other
NUELLE DUTERTE, NIECE OF FORMER PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT RODRIGO DUTERTE, ON THE ESCALATING FEUD BETWEEN THE DUTERTE AND MARCOS FAMILIES