Manila: President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has called for national unity and reconciliation with the Duterte family, despite ongoing political tensions and legal battles involving its key figures.
In a podcast aired Monday, Marcos spoke with broadcaster Anthony Taberna, stressing the importance of political stability over continued conflict. “I don't want fights. I want everyone to cooperate,” he said in Filipino. “We have enough enemies — what we need now are allies.”
The President’s message comes as he faces a fractured political environment. His senatorial slate only secured half of the 12 available seats in the last election, and tensions with the Duterte family — once close political allies — have escalated dramatically over the past year.
Marcos said he remains open to working with critics and former allies alike, so long as it helps maintain peace. “Even if we disagree on policies, I’m always ready to work together — no more chaos, just focus on getting the job done,” he said.
However, the gesture comes at a politically charged moment. Former President Rodrigo Duterte is currently detained in The Hague, facing trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged crimes against humanity tied to his bloody war on drugs.
Meanwhile, Vice President Sara Duterte — the former president’s daughter — is facing an impeachment trial in the Senate over allegations of corruption, abuse of confidential funds, betrayal of public trust, and threatening high-ranking officials, including the First Couple and House Speaker.
The impeachment, passed by the House of Representatives on February 5, is set to move to trial in the Senate, with proceedings scheduled to begin on July 30. Senate President Francis Escudero confirmed deliberations on the case will start when the chamber resumes session on June 2.
Sara Duterte, who resigned from the Marcos Cabinet last year after leaving her post as education secretary, has taken a combative stance. In a fiery statement, she warned of a potential “bloodbath” during the trial — a comment the Palace responded to cautiously, hoping she was speaking metaphorically.
Former Senator Leila de Lima, a longtime Duterte critic recently elected as a party-list representative and now one of the designated prosecutors, responded sharply, saying the only “bloodbath” would be Vice President Duterte’s political downfall.
Relations between Marcos and the Dutertes reached a breaking point after former President Duterte was extradited to the Netherlands under an ICC warrant. Sara Duterte accused the administration of betraying her father, arguing that the Philippines is no longer under the ICC’s jurisdiction following its 2019 withdrawal from the Rome Statute.
Marcos has denied involvement in the extradition, insisting that the government followed legal protocols and upheld the rule of law.
Despite the charged atmosphere, Marcos remains publicly disengaged from the impeachment case. “That’s already in the Senate. Let them handle it. There’s a legal process we must respect,” he said. “For me, the elections are over — now it’s time to work.”
As the trial nears, the political clash between the Marcos and Duterte camps signals a broader power struggle, potentially reshaping alliances ahead of the 2025 midterms and the 2028 presidential race.
