After the collapse of the political alliance between the Marcos and Duterte families in the Philippines, it seems that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. now has to contend with the fallout from his elder sister Senator Imee Marcos’ decision to team up with Vice President Sara Duterte in denouncing the shortcomings of his administration.
Imee, who is running for reelection in the midterm elections scheduled for May 12, left the senatorial lineup of the ruling coalition in protest against the government’s decision to assist Interpol in arresting former President Rodrigo Duterte, who is facing prosecution at the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity. This was followed by the release of a campaign ad themed “Itim” (black), which featured Senator Imee and Vice President Duterte decrying the bleak state of affairs under the Marcos presidency.
Senator Imee has been vocal in expressing her reservations against some of the policies of her brother over the past three years, such as allowing the establishment of a greater U.S. military presence, the continued importation of agricultural products, and the slashing of the confidential funds of the office of the vice president. The impeachment of Sara Duterte by Marcos allies in the House of Representatives and the arrest of former President Duterte may have been the key issues that finally led Senator Imee to publicly declare that she is bolting out of the administration’s election coalition
The recent release of her campaign ad could further drive a wedge between her and her brother as it echoes the Duterte narrative about the intensified hunger, criminality, and injustice in the country. The ad reminded the people that black is the country’s color because many are “starving for food and justice.”
President Marcos has not yet commented on the ad, but his press officer insisted that its message is more appropriate for the previous Duterte presidency. “We can probably describe the past administration as intensely black and is now headed towards a brighter state under the present administration,” he said.
Senator Imee could be targeting the electoral support of Duterte’s political base, especially in the southern Mindanao region. She could also be genuinely disappointed about the arrest of Duterte since she has consistently defended the legacy of the former president. But some members of the Duterte family are not entirely convinced with the senator’s sincerity. Even Vice President Duterte did not initially include Marcos in her list of senatorial candidates. Perhaps the vice president finally endorsed Marcos because she needed to ensure she would have enough votes in the Senate to prevent her impeachment conviction.
If Senator Imee’s plan was to win over the supporters of the Marcos and Duterte families, then she may have to rethink her strategy because she is in danger of losing her reelection bid based on pre-election surveys.
But the ad showed that whatever the results of the election, Senator Imee would have little influence in the next three years of the Marcos presidency. This is a political loss for the president since he has always relied on the support of his elder sister during elections. Senator Imee’s son is the incumbent governor of Ilocos Norte. As the eldest child, Senator Imee could use her influence to win over allies in the bailiwicks of her relatives in Ilocos and Leyte provinces. The Duterte camp stands to benefit if a leading member of the Marcos family like Senator Imee is the one doing the scathing attacks against the administration.
Overall, the Marcos-Duterte ad was accurate in depicting the widespread hunger and impact of rising prices on ordinary citizens. Its message resonated with those who are deeply dissatisfied with the Marcos presidency. But as a political ad, it was also notable for failing to mention the real motives of Senator Imee and Vice President Duterte in coming out with a united stance on the country’s situation. We should also point out that it essentially reflects the sorry state of politics today: Families betray each other, enemies forge unprincipled alliances, political dynasties dominate local politics, and nepo politicians think the world revolves around them.