Former President Rodrigo Duterte escalated his criticisms of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., alleging that his successor may not relinquish power when his term ends in 2028.
Speaking at an indignation rally in Mandaue City, Cebu, Duterte claimed that Marcos could declare martial law—similar to his father, former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr.—to justify a no-election scenario and extend his rule.
“Mr. Marcos is veering towards a dictatorship,” Duterte said in Cebuano. “I bet he will not step down after his term. Just like his father, he will impose martial law, and elections will not happen.”
Martial Law Concerns and Historical Parallels
The elder Marcos Sr. declared martial law in 1972 and ruled until the EDSA People Power Revolution in 1986 forced him into exile. Duterte warned that a similar fate could unfold if Marcos Jr. follows the same path.
Addressing the military and police, Duterte urged them to make moral decisions:
“Please pay attention, soldiers and policemen. Don’t ride on someone’s ambition because it will eventually end—and it is illegal. You must choose between right and wrong.”
Marcos: No Plans for Authoritarian Rule
Marcos has repeatedly dismissed claims that he seeks authoritarian control, stating in a 2024 interview with Australian broadcaster ABC:
“I have no impulses to authoritarianism whatsoever. We have a good system going, and we have followed our Constitution for the past 36 years.”
However, he acknowledged that his administration was exploring potential constitutional changes.
Gold Reserves and Transparency Issues
Duterte also criticized the Marcos administration’s lack of transparency regarding the sale of the country’s gold reserves.
“We don’t know where the gold was sold or for how much,” he claimed. “They refuse to answer or provide a statement to the Filipino people.”
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) previously defended the gold sales, calling it an “active management strategy” to capitalize on higher market prices. The Philippines sold 24.95 tonnes of gold in early 2024, reducing its reserves by 15.69%.
Indignation Rally: PDP-Laban Candidates Speak Out
Several PDP-Laban senatorial candidates joined the rally, criticizing government policies:
- Jimmy Bondoc slammed public officials with questionable wealth, saying: “If you love money, go into business. Public office is a public trust.”
- Rodante Marcoleta claimed that the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte was politically motivated.
- Vic Rodriguez, former executive secretary to Marcos Jr., pushed for reviving the death penalty for plunder and drug-related crimes.
Meanwhile, actor Philip Salvador defended the Duterte family, declaring: “There are no thieves among the Dutertes.”
What’s Next?
As political tensions rise ahead of the 2025 elections, Duterte’s latest remarks signal a deepening rift between his camp and the Marcos administration. With concerns over martial law, transparency, and governance, the political landscape remains highly volatile.