From the Newsrooms: February 4 to 10, 2024

President’s visit to Davao did not warm up relations with former president

MARCOS’ VISIT on February 7 fixed the news spotlight on Davao. Although bad weather had caused quite severe flooding and landslides in the area, the President’s schedule which had been set earlier did not include stops in any of the disaster sites, although he did an aerial inspection and attended a briefing on the situation.

The media did keep a close watch for signs of heightened or lighter tension between the president and his predecessor.

The series of public events in Duterte’s bailiwick included: the distribution of e-titles in Region XI by the Department of Agrarian Reform; the inauguration of the Davao City Bulk Water Supply Project; and the signing of work contracts for the Davao Public Transport Modernization Project.

Speaking in Filipino to Davaoeños receiving land titles from the government,President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. described Davao City as a place dear to him and his family where “many friendships for life were formed.” News picked up the sentimental note as the soundbite with which to follow up last week’s snarky exchange about their shared problem with drugs, a clear signal that the break-up of UniTeam continues to be a focus of emphasis, interest, and concern in the media. (See: “UniTeam breaks up with an exchange of charges; Rodrigo Duterte calls Mindanao to secede”)

Earlier on January 30, Rappler’s analysis of the Marcos-Duterte ties stated, that the two dynasties were more “allies, not friends.”

It recalled the first public meeting between Marcos and the Dutertes in Davao, just before the filing of the certificate of candidacy for the 2016 elections. Marcos, running for VP, had wanted but failed to get Duterte to agree to run together as a team.

In 2021, Marcos and his sister Imee flew to Davao seeking Sara as Marcos’ vice president for the 2022 elections. Despite Sara running in the Marcos team, the elder Duterte was never friendly with the presidential candidate. The older Duterte never endorsed Marcos and was even critical of him during the elections. However, when Marcos and Sara won, Duterte’s critical notes waned – and were revived only recently.

Sara in attendance

Reporting on the recent visit, Inquirer.net stressed that the Vice President was the only Duterteto join Marcos in the Davao events. Sara, who distanced herself from the verbal volley between her father and the President, was present at all events except for the inauguration of the water supply project. His brother, Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte, had joined his father’s running exchange with the president, boldly challenging Marcos to step down from his position on January 30.  He was a no-show at the water supply project which would benefit his constituents

The scattered rains brought by the shear line or the convergence of cold and warm winds from the Pacific Ocean caused flooding and numerous landslides in Davao and other parts of Mindanao since January. News throughout the week noted the extent of damage to property and people’s livelihood. According to ANC, at least 1.25 million individuals were affected. Mindanews reported that 23 villages in Davao City were already placed in a state of calamity on February 5. This was in addition to the provinces of Davao De Oro and Davao del Norte which were already placed under the state of calamity since the last week of January.

A landslide triggered by the constant rain buried several properties at the mountainous barangay Masara in Maco, Davao de Oro on February 6. Frontline Pilipinas Weekend recorded 28 deaths with 77 people still missing as of press time. The periodic rainfall made the search and retrieval operations more difficult.

Mines and Geosciences Bureau Region XI told 24 Oras that the area was a “splay” or an extension of the Philippine fault; noting similar incidents in 2007 and 2008. The agency already recommended relocating those who live in the area after they conducted an assessment in 2011, 2014, and 2018. In the same report, the local government explained that it had declared the area as a “no-build zone” — and lamely excusing itself of responsibility — but residents kept coming back.

Marcos signed the released PHP265 million fund to aid the Davao region.

In other news:

• The Inquirer reported that Marcos fully supported efforts to amend the 1987 Constitution but only the provisions on “economic matters.” It was the first time for the president expressed his favor for charter change, having kept himself above the fray as charges of paying for signatures for the people’s initiative split up the political alliance in Congress. On Duterte’s call for Mindanao to secede from the country, his response was brief: It would destroy the country.
• Media continued to report calls for the release of filmmaker Jade Castro and four others, who were arrested without a warrant on February 1 in Mulanay, Quezon Province. The Calabarzon police alleged that the group had burned down a modern jeepney in Catanauan, Quezon. Free Legal Assistance Group said the arrest was “baseless.” TV Patrol showed close-circuit camera footage of the group in Mulanay while the crime was committed in Catanauan, but the police have stood by their arrest and the group is still detained.
• Philstar.com mapped out information about the cyber-attacks on government servers after the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) traced these hacking attempts to China-based IP addresses. ICT undersecretary Jeffery Ian Dy clarified that there is no evidence to indicate that the attacks involved the Chinese government despite the actions being carried out in the Chinese territory.