The ongoing feud sparking headlines internationally lies not within the realm of Hollywood drama, but rather within the political arena of the Philippines. The notorious spat between two of the country’s major political families, treads along a dangerous line, almost teetering into unlawful territory. While the rest of the world may see it as an intriguing political saga, those within the Philippines understand the volatility that comes with this form of power clashing.
Vice President Sara Duterte, known for her strong-arm tactics, not too long ago was entertaining visions of parting Filipino political stalwart Ferdinand Marcos Jr. from this mortal coil in a rather dramatic fashion. In fact, she had even announced having clandestine support to eliminate Marcos, his spouse, and one of his kin in the case of her demise. The unsettling reality being, for those familiar with her political trajectory, these violent proclamations are not a departure from her typical strategy.
Being the progeny of the ex-Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte, Sara’s reign in the political landscape started off with a bang (quite literally) as she physically assaulted a city marshal conducting an eviction, with the event being broadcast widely. In parallel, while Sara was manifesting her aggressive stance towards Marcos Jr., his wife, Lisa, and his cousin, Martin Romualdez, her father was himself becoming the stuff of the tabloids.
The ex-president, Rodrigo Duterte not to be outdone by his daughter also laid startling claims, recommending that the nation’s military ‘serve the country’ in response to what he brazenly labelled as ‘fractured governance’ of the current administration. Hence, it seems the contrasting elements of the Philippine political scene – the Marcoses and the Dutertes, are adamantly headed towards an all-out war.
What’s fascinating is how quickly things have changed. Not so long ago, the Filipino populace was enamored with the almost surreal political alliance between Sara and Bongbong. However, it was not Sara’s father who orchestrated this ‘political marriage’. The ex-president had little regard for Marcos, even outspokenly labeling him a narcotics user ahead of the elections.
However, the ambitious Sara saw beyond her father’s disapproval. She believed that her chances at the presidential role were strong, with pre-election polls even projecting her as leading the vote with an estimated 20% support, while Marcos Jr. lagged behind at 15%.
But her defiant spirit led her to align with Marco’s sister and her personal friend, Senator Imee Marcos. In their alliance, Sara took up a role which paled in comparison to Imee’s prominence in the political landscape.
Yet after the win, rather than rewarding Sara’s loyalty with a position matching her ambitions, Marcos allocated her a position of Secretary of Education – a role significantly less consequential than that of the Secretary of Defense which she likely coveted.
Troubles for Sara didn’t stop there. The House of Representatives rejected a funding plea from Sara’s office due to an inability to explain previous expenditure. This was, in essence, a nail in her political coffin, reinforcing her marginalized position.
The ultimate affront to her ambitions, however, came from none other than the current President and Martin Romualdez pushing for constitutional amendments – a clear threat to her intentions to follow up on Marcos Jr. in 2028.
The proposed amendments aimed to transition the Philippines into a parliamentary system, where the head of the ruling party in the lower house would ascend to the position of the head of state. In essence, this move could foreclose Sara’s ambition of stepping into the leadership role.
Sara Duterte’s influence continues to be a force to reckon with, powered heavily by a robust base of popular backing. Recent surveys, while showing a dip in Sara’s trust and satisfaction ratings, placed her just as favored as Bongbong, as a potential leader.
Marcos Jr., on the other hand, hardly matches up to the popularity of the elder Duterte, who closed his term with an impressive 75% approval rating, his blunders on pandemic response and drug war notwithstanding.
The escalation of this family feud keeps the nation on edge. Supporters are rallying the citizens, urging them to cement their allegiance to one side or the other.
Policy analyst, Herbert Docena posits an alternative. Rather than blindly supporting the Dutertes or the Marcoses, he suggests nurturing autonomous entities to prevent citizens from becoming pawns of the powerful and dubious political families. It’s uncertain whether the Filipinos will heed this call for a shift in their political thought process.