Tensions between Marcos and former Duterte in the Philippines have sparked a political storm as the two have attacked each other in public. At a large rally, Duterte denounced Marcos' political ambitions and drug abuse, suggesting that he should. Marcos, for his part, ridiculed Duterte as a victim of fentanyl, affecting his judgment.
Duterte's rally drew thousands of supporters, who were constantly cheering him on. Duterte has been relentless in exposing the machinations of Marcos and his political associates, arguing that they want to replicate the rule of Marcos Sr. Duterte also claimed that Marcos was a drug addict and that his name was already on the blacklist of the anti-narcotics department.
Marcos shrugged off Duterte's accusations, and during his visit to Vietnam, he mocked Duterte for going crazy because he was taking fentanyl. Fentanyl is a powerful painkiller that Duterte once admitted he used because of a motorcycle accident. But his lawyer said Duterte had stopped taking it before he took office.
The war of words between the two shows that their once political alliance has broken down. Last year, Marcos and Duterte joined forces, and they were elected ** and vice ** respectively. But now, the Philippines is about to face the midterm elections in 2025 and the ** elections in 2028, and the interests and positions of the two men have diverged. Marcos leans towards **, while Duterte leans towards pro-China.
Marcos' visit to Vietnam is aimed at promoting cooperation between the Philippines and Vietnam in the South China Sea, and he hopes to use Vietnam's power to counter China's influence. But the move was opposed by the Duterte family, which prefers to maintain friendly relations with China. Duterte's daughter, Sarah, is the incumbent deputy and has a high approval rating and is expected to win the 2028 election. Marcos made her Minister of Education in order to suppress her, but this did not affect her popularity.
The Philippines has always had disputes with China over the South China Sea, which has led to internal disputes in the Philippines. Duterte dared to openly challenge Marcos because he has his own base of support and influence. His son, Sebastian, is the mayor of Davao City, and he also sided with his father, demanding that Marcos should resign if he cannot contribute to the country.
This political storm in the Philippines will have a major impact on its future. Currently, the International Criminal Court is also investigating Duterte's war on drugs, accusing him of alleged human rights violations. But Marcos refused to cooperate and was unwilling to extradite Duterte. It may be that he is leaving a way back for himself, as Duterte's remarks hinted that he might liquidate Marcos. If Sara can be elected in 2028, then Marcos's situation will be even more precarious.