Philippine vice-president Duterte threatens to dig up former dictator Marcos Sr.'s remains amid political feud
Philippine Vice-President Sara Duterte has escalated her political feud with President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. by threatening to exhume the remains of his father former dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. and dispose of them into the sea.
Her remarks, aimed at Marcos Jr.'s sister Senator Imee Marcos, come amid a growing rivalry between the Duterte and Marcos families ahead of the 2025 midterm elections.
At a press conference on Friday, October 18, Duterte expressed frustration over continued political attacks from the Marcos camp. “One time, I told Senator Imee, if you don’t stop, I’ll dig up your father and throw him into the West Philippine Sea,” she was quoted by local media outlet Phil Star.
Duterte further added, "One of these days, I'll go there, take your father's body, and throw it into the West Philippine Sea. I don't think [Imee] responded," revealing that the threat was made in a group chat that included Imee Marcos and others.
The vice-president’s outburst highlights the deepening split between her and President Marcos Jr., with whom she ran on a joint ticket in the 2022 elections, securing a landslide victory. However, Duterte resigned from Marcos Jr.'s cabinet in June 2024, signalling the start of a power struggle that is expected to intensify as both prepare for the 2028 presidential race.
The rift between the two political dynasties has been compounded by recent events, including a probe into allegations that Duterte misused public funds—claims she has denied. Meanwhile, parliamentary hearings have resurfaced discussions of the violent "war on drugs" initiated by Sara Duterte's father, former president Rodrigo Duterte.
Rodrigo Duterte’s administration, which ran from 2016 to 2022, has been under investigation by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity. His controversial anti-drug campaign reportedly led to the deaths of over 7,000 people, with police killing an average of 34 individuals per day in the first six months of the crackdown. The hearings revealed that police were allegedly paid "rewards" for killing drug suspects.
The conflict between the Duterte and Marcos families also recalls the controversy surrounding the burial of Ferdinand Marcos Sr. when the two families had a good relationship. In 2016, then-president Rodrigo Duterte approved the former dictator's burial with full military honours at the Heroes' Cemetery.
Marcos Sr., who died in 1989, left behind a legacy marred by accusations of embezzling up to $10 billion from state funds and committing widespread human rights abuses during his 20-year rule.
The decision to allow his burial with military honours sparked widespread protests, particularly from human rights activists and victims of the Marcos regime, who opposed the glorification of a figure associated with martial law and repression.
