Former President Rodrigo Duterte must be fuming with anger these days. He went from being an all-powerful figure to a regular person with complaints against the new government. During his presidency, lawmakers would cower in fear when he insulted or threatened them. He didn’t spare anyone, not even the Pope or the President of the United States.
In a recent TV interview, Duterte unleashed his anger on Makabayan lawmaker and ACT Teachers party list Rep. France Castro, even threatening to kill her. He admitted that he suggested to his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, that she should announce to the public that the now-canceled confidential funds would have been used to eliminate Castro and her allies. Castro and progressive groups associated with her plan to file charges against the former president due to these threats.
Lawmakers from different political blocs in the House of Representatives issued a rare joint statement, criticizing Duterte for his threats against a member of Congress and urging him to stop. During the same interview, Duterte revealed that he used his intelligence funds as mayor of Davao City to finance the killing of alleged communists in his city. He stated, “I used my intelligence funds to buy their deaths. That’s why Davao is like that. Your companions, [Castro], I really had them killed. That’s the truth.”
This admission led former senator Antonio Trillanes IV to submit the interview footage to the International Criminal Court (ICC) as additional evidence for the ongoing investigation into Duterte’s alleged crimes against humanity. In the same interview, the former president also referred to the lower house as the “most corrupt institution” in the country. He called for an investigation into the lower chamber and specifically targeted Speaker Martin Romualdez, accusing him of misappropriating pork barrel funds.
The joint statement mentioned earlier saw leaders of major parties rebuking Duterte and stating that their funds and expenses have been audited by the Commission on Audit. Duterte’s anger towards Castro and corruption in the House seems to be a diversion tactic. His real issue lies in the removal of the confidential and intelligence funds allocated to his daughter as vice president and education secretary. Additionally, he complains about issues that he himself tolerated and benefited from during his presidency. He even appointed members of the group he now accuses of being communists to key cabinet positions early in his term. He also withheld confidential or intelligence funds from then Vice President Leni Robredo and allowed the pork barrel system to flourish in order to secure the loyalty of Congress.
This is not to say that the Marcos administration should be exempt from criticism. In fact, some lawmakers claim that corruption is even worse under the current administration compared to before. Smuggling has become rampant and is negatively impacting local industries. There’s a lack of direction and focus, and there’s a preference for superficial speeches and unnecessary travel. Despite the country’s struggling economy, there seems to be no urgency to address these issues.
While the Duterte father and daughter tandem are involved in political battles, President Marcos has chosen to stay out of the fray, at least for now. However, his continued silence can be interpreted as consent to his allies’ actions. Any statement in favor of the Dutertes will alienate his loyal supporters. The Dutertes are clearly at a disadvantage as the supreme power of the purse, which guarantees the loyalty of political figures and security forces, lies with the Marcos camp. The threat of ICC prosecution is a weapon that the Marcos camp can use against the former president. The same fate that befell former senator Leila de Lima could also await Duterte and his daughter for the killings and corruption scandals that have been exposed but not prosecuted domestically. The only “weapon” that the Dutertes have is their hold on a significant portion of voters, which they can use to either elect their own candidate in 2028 or sway the votes in favor of a third candidate.
As the Marcos and Duterte camps continue to attack each other, it strengthens the possibility of an unexpected contender emerging in the 2028 presidential elections. Senator Raffy Tulfo is rumored to be a viable candidate who resonates with the masses in these desperate and disillusioned times. If the initial choices from the Marcos and Duterte camps prove unviable, it may become a race to win over Tulfo as a strong third candidate to ensure protection and extend influence. The political circus leading to the 2028 elections seems to have arrived early.
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