Philippines politics

The economy may pose a more serious threat than the fulminations of the Mindanao-based political clan.

The ex-leader may finally face justice for his bloody “war on drugs”, but the country he leaves behind is increasingly divided.

Since his arrest, the ex-leader, his family, and his supporters have presented a spectacle of unrepentant self-pity.

Both the Marcos and Duterte camps are actively promoting self-serving narratives about the ex-leader's extradition to The Hague.

Rodrigo Duterte, who was this week arrested and extradited to the ICC, withdrew Manila from the court's founding statute in 2019.

The former leader's transfer to The Hague has the chance to usher in a new era of accountability for the region.

Despite improvements under President Marcos, the country remains a difficult – and sometimes dangerous – place to be a journalist.

At a political rally last week, Rodrigo Duterte joked about killing 15 senators with a bomb in order to free up positions for his own party's candidates.

The conflict between the two prominent political clans has continued into the first week of campaigning for May's mid-term polls.

Last week's impeachment of Sara Duterte has added an extra weight of political significance to the 12 Senate seats up for election.

Sara Duterte said that it was too early to consider resigning, which would preempt the impeachment and preserve her ability to run for office in future.

Ahead of mid-term elections in May, Philippine politics seems destined to be consumed by the Marcos-Duterte feud.