From the Newsrooms: April 7 to 20, 2024

Media ask about Marcos’ relationship with Duterte family

“IT’S COMPLICATED.” The two words were all President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had to say about his relationship with the Duterte family. The president and his predecessor however were ready to exchange barbs about various issues, but most prominently, about the “gentleman’s agreement” between Rodrigo Duterte and Xi Jinping on the West Philippine Sea (WPS). News picked up every sign of the deepening rift that has cracked Team Unity and its members. News accounts and photos have captured every spoken line, every sidelong glance, or smooth sidestep to avoid having to acknowledge one another — indicating that some things just can’t be any longer. 

The mood turned cold after Harry Roque told the media in March that there was a “gentleman’s agreement” between Duterte and China over the WPS. Marcos, who has been critical of China’s aggression, voiced his disapproval of the deal, saying he was unaware of it and that would rescind it. 

Marcos in an ambush interview with several journalists on April 10 said he was “horrified” at the idea that the agreement had compromised the country’s territory and sovereignty. Marcos flew to the United States for a trilateral meeting with US President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumiyo Kishida. The three countries released a statement on April 11, emphasizing their commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific and international order based on international law.

While Marcos was still  in the US, Duterte held a news conference in Davao City on April 12. He clarified once again that he did not concede anything to China but his talks with President Xi alluded to a status quo in the WPS. Reports also quoted Duterte calling Marcos a “crybaby” for reaching out to America for help, taunting Marcos — “and you call yourself President?”

From the same press con, several reports picked up Duterte’s remarks about how he and Marcos were becoming “political enemies.” This followed his criticism of the 60-day preventive suspension of Davao del Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib, which was issued by Marcos because of several administrative complaints against Jubahib, an ally of the Duterte family. 

ABS-CBN News, among others, reported on April 13 Marcos’ response to Duterte’s remarks. He said he did not consider Duterte as a political enemy. 

At the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) Forum on April 15, reporters asked about the ongoing exchange and Marcos described his relationship with the Duterte clan as “complicated.” Several media reported this and the president’s saying that his working relationship with Vice President Sara Duterte remained the same. Marcos also shared with the press that the vice president assured him – not to worry because she’ll keep focusing on her work – despite the insults hurled at him by her father or brother, Davao Mayor Baste Duterte. 

Marcos has defended Sara several times. On April 13, media reported that Marcos justified the vice president’s silence on the WPS issue, explaining that as VP and education secretary, it was not her place to talk about China. 

Soon enough, First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos guested on the April 19 episode of the online show Tune in kay Tunying and admitted that she and Sara had a strained relationship. On April 18,  Frontline Pilipinas reporting on the teaser of the interview, quoted Liza saying Sara “crossed the line” when she attended the Davao City prayer rally on January 28 where her father called the President “bangag (high on drugs)” and she (Sara) allegedly laughed at the remark. The same report also recalled several instances when Liza ignored the VP in public.

Despite this complaint, media reports showed the president and vice president friendly and cordial with one another when they attended the graduation event of the Philippine National Police Academy. 

Meanwhile, pressures have mounted to question Sara’s performance as education chief. 

On April 20, several media recorded the call of several politicians for Sara’s resignation from the Marcos cabinet. The Philippine Daily Inquirer’s  account ACT Teachers quoted  Rep France Castro who urged Marcos to rethink keeping the Vice President as education chief. Act Teacher chair Vladimir Queta was also quoted saying that teachers are still waiting for Sara to act on the education crisis, and focus on her work as education secretary with or without the political bickering.. 

The same report quoted Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez and Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas calling for Sara to step down from her cabinet post.

A News5 report on April 19 showed Duterte doing another volte-face. It picked  up Duterte’s clarification that he is not “anti-Marcos;” “hindi ako oposisyon.” He explained further that he did not support Marcos because having served as president, he had other friends who were also running and he did not want any of them to feel hurt. To highlight Duterte’s flipflop, the report recalled all the instances Duterte had insulted Marcos, his presidency, and his administration.

Meanwhile, in other news:

• Remember Arnolfo Teves arrested in late March while playing golf in Timor Leste? Frontline Pilipinas reported on April 18 that the Department of Justice has asked Timor-Leste for the immediate deportation of the alleged mastermind of the grisly Pamplona massacre in 2023 which killed nine people, including Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo. The same report said that the DOJ had been notified about Teves’ son alleged bribery of police in Timor Leste for special treatment for his father while in detention. Teves was arrested by Timor Leste police on March 21 and is currently detained in the country while waiting for his extradition to the Philippines.
  
• Media reported government’s preparations for the April 30 deadline for the franchise consolidation of public utility vehicles (PUV) as a part of the PUV modernization program. President Marcos extended the earlier deadline from December 31, 2023 saying there would be no more extensions. The Inquirer report said hat the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority will coordinate with the other agencies to apprehend unconsolidated vehicles on the street. According to 24 Oras, the Land Transportation Franchise Regulatory Board said it will implement apprehension on May 1, issuing a warning first to allow the vehicle to complete the consolidation process.
   
• Three Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) died during the severe flooding in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) this week. UAE experienced the heaviest downpour in 75 years that flooded the entire state. Manila Bulletin focused its April 20 report on actions taken by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW): starting up the process of repatriation for the victims’ remains and sending relief packs to some 800 affected OFWs. Report also said that the DMW has been coordinating with other agencies to assist Filipinos stranded in the Dubai International airport.