Marcos Jnr ‘always available’ to meet Duterte amid cracks in Philippine alliance between country’s political families

The recent developments are highlighting the growing cracks in the alliance of the Philippines’ two largest political families that produced landslide victories in 2022 for Marcos and Vice-President Sara Duterte, Rodrigo’s daughter.

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A fractured coalition comes at a time when Marcos is banking on domestic support in his campaign to assert the nation’s rights in the South China Sea. It may also impact his ability to extend influence after his term ends in 2028.

The discord between the two camps became more visible a year after the May 2022 election, as the Dutertes distanced themselves from Marcos’s strategy of strengthening ties with the US. Duterte, who spurned Washington and pivoted towards China during his six-year term, met with Chinese President Xi Jinping last July as Manila and Beijing sparred over the disputed sea.

Around the same time, Sara Duterte was assailed by Marcos’s allies in Congress over her request for confidential funds after questions arose on how she spent a similar slush budget the prior year. The chatter over simmering military discontent allegedly fanned by Duterte supporters was first brought up in November by ex-Senator Antonio Trillanes, a known critic of the former president. Trillanes repeated his accusations over the weekend.

Duterte made a death threat on Philippines TV. Now the show has been suspended

Last month, Philippine regulators halted a television programme that regularly featured a Duterte broadcast by Sonshine Media Network International linked to evangelist Apollo Quiboloy. Days later, the government suspended Sonshine for 30 days for violating the terms of its franchise. Quiboloy is a known supporter of Duterte.

Duterte is “comfortable” with Marcos and isn’t looking for someone to replace the current leader, he said during a briefing with reporters in southern Davao City on Saturday.

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Филиппины Экономика и Бизнес

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