Latest news with #MarcosDuterteRivalry
South China Morning Post
7 days ago
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Will Sara Duterte revive her dad's softer China stance if she wins 2028 Philippines vote?
With Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr about halfway through his six-year term, questions are growing over whether his successor will uphold his firmer stance on the South China Sea or, as one senior official has warned, retreat to the symbolic 'jet ski' posturing and softer policies seen under his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte Last month's midterm elections delivered a split Senate, with Marcos-aligned candidates winning five of the 12 contested seats and Duterte allies clinching the other five – highlighting the deepening rivalry between the two dominant political clans and setting the stage for a contentious 2028 presidential election. The remaining two seats were won by opposition candidates not aligned with either Marcos or Duterte. Commodore Jay Tarriela, the Philippine Coast Guard's spokesman for the West Philippine Sea, warned over the weekend that Manila must guard against electing a leader in 2028 who would once again 'ride a jet ski' on empty promises rather than assert the country's sovereign rights. Speaking at a public forum last week, Tarriela credited the Marcos administration with restoring public confidence in the country's claims to the West Philippine Sea – the term Manila uses for the portion of the South China Sea within its exclusive economic zone. He urged vigilance to ensure that momentum is not lost after Marcos leaves office. Commodore Jay Tarriela speaks at a Manila forum on August 19, 2024, following a collision between Chinese and Philippine vessels in the South China Sea. Photo: AFP 'What if it's 2028 already? It's the end of President Marcos Jnr's term. How can we assure that our fight in the West Philippine Sea will continue?' Tarriela asked.
South China Morning Post
31-05-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Philippines' Duterte vs Marcos battle for 2028 begins: ‘they've smelled blood'
As the dust settles from the shock of the Philippines ' midterm election, it is clear that President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr and his dynastic rivals, the Dutertes, have fought to a stalemate, with both camps securing an equal number of Senate seats. Advertisement This political deadlock ensures that the immediate focus of national politics will revolve around the rivalry between the two powerful clans. For Marcos' administration, pressing economic and foreign-policy issues are likely to take a back seat to two urgent priorities: removing Sara Duterte-Carpio from the vice-presidency, and preparing for the 2028 presidential race. 'All politicians' attention will be on 2028, on who has the best chance of winning,' said Ronald Llamas, political strategist and former presidential adviser. 'Whether overtly or covertly, politicians will begin to gravitate to whoever is No 1 or No 2 in surveys for the presidential elections,' he told This Week in Asia. Unfortunately for the Marcoses, early surveys have not been kind. President Marcos himself is barred from seeking re-election in 2028 by constitutional term limits, even if his popularity were higher. His cousin, House Speaker Martin Romualdez, has been floated as a potential contender, but his abysmal approval ratings – reportedly less than 1 per cent – make him an unlikely flag-bearer for the Marcos camp. Philippine Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio enjoys high approval ratings. Photo: AP By contrast, Duterte-Carpio remains a formidable challenger, buoyed by the enduring popularity of her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte . 'Her ratings have dropped but they're still high,' Llamas said.
