28-1-2024 (MANILA) A clash between supporters of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr and former President Rodrigo Duterte unfolded on Jan 28, highlighting a deepening divide between the influential clans over the country’s Constitution.
Since Mr Marcos’s electoral victory nearly two years ago, in tandem with vice-presidential candidate Sara Duterte, daughter of the former president, their coalition, dubbed the “Unity Team,” has fractured.
While thousands congregated at a seaside park in Manila for an evening rally headlined by President Duterte, his son, Sebastian Duterte, openly called for Mr Marcos’s resignation during a rally in the family’s southern stronghold of Davao.
Mayor Duterte, speaking in the Cebuano language, blamed Mr Marcos for the region’s drug and communist insurgency problems and urged him to step down if he lacked love and aspiration for the country.
The rift between the families has intensified as they vie for support bases and strategic positions ahead of the 2025 midterm elections and the 2028 presidential race, which Sebastian Duterte is anticipated to contest.
The latest contention arose over Mr Marcos’s support for amending the 1987 Constitution, which was introduced after his father’s ousting, to attract more foreign investment—an initiative opposed by both Dutertes.
Critics fear the amendment could pave the way for Mr Marcos’s extended term, currently prohibited, potentially setting him against Sara Duterte.
While Mr Marcos advocates deferring discussions on the Constitution’s political provisions, including term limits, former President Duterte has decried the move, warning against power consolidation.
On Jan 28, Mr Marcos is set to kick off his “Bagong Pilipinas” (New Philippines) campaign in Manila, aimed at steering the nation towards change and development. Meanwhile, the Duterte patriarch is expected to attend a rally in Davao organized by opponents of constitutional change.
The rallies, denounced by left-wing party Akbayan as a “dynastic war among ruling elites,” are anticipated to draw tens of thousands of supporters.
Dr Jean Franco, a University of the Philippines political science professor, views the events as a public declaration of the demise of the Unity Team.
In Manila, attendees expressed support for Mr Marcos, oblivious to the Constitution controversy, underscoring their faith in his leadership.
The unraveling alliance between the families escalated following the 2022 election, exacerbated by political maneuvers and leadership disputes within the House of Representatives.
As tensions mount, Mr Marcos remains resolute in his refusal to cooperate with the International Criminal Court’s investigation into Mr Duterte’s drug war, denouncing it as a threat to sovereignty.
