Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo “Pulong” Duterte launched a fiery attack against President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. after reports emerged that government officials conducted what was described as a “welfare check” on former President Rodrigo Duterte at the International Criminal Court detention facility in The Hague.
Calling the move a political ploy, the younger Duterte accused Marcos of persecuting his father and warned that Filipinos would not remain silent. “The worst, most corrupt, and most hated president,” Pulong said of Marcos, adding that the people would ensure he is held accountable.
The criticism comes at a time when cracks between the once-powerful Marcos–Duterte alliance have become increasingly visible. The two families joined forces during the 2022 elections through the “UniTeam” slate, bringing together Marcos as president and Sara Duterte as vice president. But since then, tensions have sharpened.
Sara Duterte earlier claimed that the criminal charges filed against her brother Paolo were politically motivated, while Pulong himself openly opposed House leadership decisions he said were dictated by Marcos’s party. In September, First District Rep. Sandro Marcos fired back, saying Duterte was frequently absent from House affairs and often out of touch with legislative matters.
Political observers note that the conflict reflects a broader rupture between two dynasties whose alliance was once seen as unshakable. Rodrigo Duterte, now facing international detention, has himself made public remarks critical of Marcos, underscoring the collapse of what was once considered a formidable political partnership.
