Duterte Supporters Angry At Sara Impeachment by Marcos
The impeachment of Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte has sent shockwaves through the country’s political landscape. Critics have accused Vice President Sara Duterte of corruption, unexplained wealth accumulation. On the flipside, his supporters have threatened President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. Despite her firm denials, the impeachment process has moved forward. This development highlights the deep divisions within the Marcos-Duterte alliance that once seemed unbreakable.
Marcos strategically aligned himself with Sara Duterte in 2022 to win the presidency. Duterte’s popularity, inherited from her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, helped him shed the controversial legacy of his own father. Many voters had viewed him with skepticism due to the dictatorship of his father, Ferdinand Marcos Sr. However, by partnering with Duterte, he managed to rebrand himself as a leader for a new era. The alliance ensured him a landslide victory, but signs of a fractured relationship quickly emerged.
This strategy of using a popular figure to gain power is not new for the Marcos family. Before Ferdinand Marcos Sr., became the dictator he was known as. He first aligned himself with then-President Diosdado Macapagal. He rose through the political ranks under Macapagal’s administration, only to turn against him in the 1965 presidential elections. After securing power, Marcos Sr. eventually declared martial law, consolidating his rule and eliminating political rivals. Many now see echoes of this strategy in how Marcos Jr. used Sara Duterte to secure his presidency—only to discard her when she was no longer useful.
Marcos Duterte Rift and Sara’s Impeachment Is History Repeating Itself
Marcos and his allies had previously used inflammatory rhetoric to weaken political opponents. His supporters painted Sara Duterte as a loyal partner, but their partnership was always transactional. Once Marcos had secured his position, his need for Duterte’s political influence began to decline. The impeachment proceedings suggest that Marcos has cast aside Sara Duterte now that she no longer serves his interests.
The rivalry between the families deepened when Rodrigo Duterte criticized him. The former president called Marcos a weak leader and accused him of drug use, claims that Marcos denied. These accusations reignited old tensions, making it clear that their political alliance was crumbling.
Adding to the controversy, Sara Duterte made a shocking remark in November 2024. She claimed to have hired an assassin to kill Marcos, his wife, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez if she were assassinated. Her critics seized upon this statement, which she later clarified as an exaggerated concern for her safety. It provided an excuse for impeachment proceedings, which many see as politically motivated.
Supporters of Duterte argue that the administration has betrayed her and her father. Once a key figure in Marcos’s rebranding, she is now facing removal. If convicted, the law bars her from holding public office, permanently sidelining her from Philippine politics. . Meanwhile, Marcos’s grip on power strengthens as he distances himself from the Duterte name.
The outcome of this impeachment trial will shape the country’s political future. The once-powerful alliance between the two families has unraveled, revealing the ruthless nature of Philippine politics. Whether Duterte overcomes this challenge or disappears from the political scene remains uncertain. However, many believe Marcos used, discarded, and ultimately outmaneuvered her to reshape his own legacy—just as his father once did.
