Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte did not hold back in his criticism of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. following the arrest of his father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, who is now detained in the Netherlands to face charges of crimes against humanity.
Speaking at the 88th Araw ng Dabaw celebration, the younger Duterte openly expressed his disdain for Marcos, questioning his leadership and vowing to fight back against what he called an “illegal” arrest.
“Mr. President Marcos, you will never be loved, especially by those who call out Rody Duterte’s name,” Duterte declared, drawing cheers from the crowd. “We will stand up and we will fight back.”
Rodrigo Duterte, 79, was arrested upon arrival in Manila from Hong Kong last Tuesday and was later transferred to the Scheveningen Prison in The Hague, where he recently made his first court appearance via video link. His next hearing is set for September 23, 2025.
Baste Duterte also took aim at the Marcos family’s history, linking their name to martial law and oppression. “It seems to me, the stories that I’ve heard about martial law and oppression are synonymous with the Marcos family name,” he said, as the crowd chanted “Marcos resign!”
The mayor also accused Marcos Jr. of turning his back on Rodrigo Duterte, who had allowed the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. to be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in 2016 despite long-standing opposition.
Meanwhile, thousands of supporters took to the streets of Davao City in a Solidarity Walk to show their support for the former president. Dressed in black as a symbolic gesture, around 30,000 participants, according to police estimates, gathered at San Pedro Square, where Baste Duterte addressed them.
“Don’t be surprised why this is happening now—Rody Duterte stood up against traditional politicians who don’t want real change in this country,” he said. “They don’t want Duterte around because he disrupts their games in government.”
The Marcos administration has yet to respond to Baste Duterte’s fiery remarks.
