[Source/Observer Network Chen Sijia] According to a May 19 report by the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Philippine President Marcos stated in a podcast interview that he is willing to reconcile with the family of former President Duterte, hoping for political stability in the Philippines to advance the political agenda. The midterm election in the Philippines has just concluded, and the Marcos camp and the Duterte camp were almost evenly matched in the Senate election.

On May 19, Marcos shared a podcast video on social media. When asked if he was willing to repair relations with the Duterte family, Marcos replied, "Yes. I don't want trouble, and I hope everyone can get along harmoniously, which would be better. I already have many enemies, I don't need more enemies; I need friends."

He added, "I pursue stability and peace as much as possible so we can get work done. That's why I've always been open to reconciliation and any way that helps us cooperate. We may not agree on policies, but we can still do our work well."

As of now, Vice President Sara Duterte, for whom Marcos' remarks have not yet made any response. Staff at the Vice President's office told the Daily Inquirer, "If the Vice President has any statement, we will convey it."

Screenshot of Philippine President Marcos in the video

In 2022, Marcos and Duterte's daughter, Sara Duterte, ran as president and vice president, winning overwhelmingly. However, after the Marcos administration took office, their relationship deteriorated rapidly, and the alliance between the Marcos and Duterte families broke down. Last June, Sara announced her resignation from Marcos' cabinet but continued to serve as vice president, an elected position.

In February, the Philippine House of Representatives filed an impeachment case against Sara, accusing her of "violating the constitution, betraying public trust, and corruption" among other serious offenses. She was also accused of threatening the lives of Marcos, his wife, and the Speaker of the Philippine House of Representatives during a speech. It is expected that the new Senate will vote on the impeachment case in July, requiring a two-thirds majority of the 24 senators to pass for it to take effect.

Duterte launched a drug crackdown during his time as mayor of Davao City and as President of the Philippines. The International Criminal Court (ICC) accused him of committing "crimes against humanity" in implementing anti-drug operations. Although the Philippines withdrew from the ICC in 2019, the tribunal still formally launched an investigation in September 2021.

Marcos initially stated that he would not assist the ICC in investigating Duterte upon taking office. However, as tensions between the two families escalated, Marcos' attitude changed starting in November 2023, stating that he was reconsidering joining the ICC.

In March, Duterte was arrested at Manila International Airport and is currently being held in The Hague, Netherlands. The ICC said that the first pre-trial chamber will proceed to the next phase of the trial process on September 23, i.e., holding a confirmation of charges hearing.

Supporters of Duterte held demonstrations in Davao City, Reuters

On May 12 local time, the Philippines held its midterm elections, re-electing all 317 seats in the House of Representatives, 12 of the 24 seats in the Senate, as well as local administrative heads and local council members.

According to results recently released by the Philippine Electoral Commission, the Marcos camp won six of the 12 seats up for re-election in the Senate, followed closely by the Duterte camp with five seats. One of the newly elected senators was supported by both camps, so both sides claim him as a victory.

In addition, ABS-CBN News Network reported that all five members of the Duterte family who participated in the midterm elections won. Duterte won the mayoral race in Davao City with an overwhelming majority, his second son Sebastian won the vice-mayoral race, and his eldest son Paul was re-elected as a congressman. Paul's son Omar was also elected as a congressman, and his other son Rodrigo II was elected as a city councilor in Davao City.

It remains unclear how Duterte will be sworn in as mayor while in prison. His daughter, Sara, said, "His lawyers at the International Criminal Court and Filipino lawyers are discussing this issue."

Lucio Blanco Pitlo III, an international relations researcher at the Asian-Pacific Advancement Foundation, pointed out that the results of the midterm elections indicate that the Duterte family remains a force to be reckoned with in Philippine politics. Pitlo believes that the Marcos camp's near-even split with the opposition in the Senate election means he will face more challenges in the remaining three years of his presidency.

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Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7506471846502531624/

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