A family feud in the Philippines

2025 Midterm Elections: A Battle for Philippine Power

Teh 2025 midterm elections in the Philippines are poised to be the most consequential in the nationS history, surpassing their customary role as a referendum on the incumbent management. This pivotal juncture will not only assess president Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s performance but will also determine the political future of Vice-President Sara Duterte, exposing the ongoing power struggle between two of the country’s most prominent political families.

A Precarious Partnership

Marcos’ and Duterte’s 2022 victory, achieved under the UniTeam banner, was a strategic alliance forged for political expediency. Their shared ambition for power, coupled with Marcos’ financial resources and Duterte’s enduring popularity, propelled them to a landslide triumph. Both,as the heirs to autocratic legacies—Ferdinand Marcos Sr.and Rodrigo Duterte—inherited a populist approach that resonates with a significant portion of the Filipino electorate. Though, their political union was always characterized by a lack of shared ideology, illustrating it’s nature as a marriage of convenience rather than a genuine partnership.

This façade of unity crumbled swiftly, revealing the inherent tensions within their alliance. Duterte’s public rejection of the Department of National defense position, in favor of the Department of Education, highlighted the friction over power dynamics. Furthermore,accusations of misuse of public funds against her office,attributed to Marcos’ allies,further strained their relationship.Duterte responded with increasingly inflammatory rhetoric, threatening the Marcos family and even vowing to exhume Marcos Sr.’s remains and discard them in the West Philippine Sea.

“If I get killed, go kill Marcos, the First Lady, and the House Speaker,” she famously declared. This politically charged statement, coupled with allegations of corruption, led to Duterte’s impeachment in the House of Representatives, orchestrated by Marcos’ cousin, Speaker Martin Romualdez.

The Stakes Are High

The 2025 midterm elections hold immense meaning for both factions. Duterte’s political future hinges on the outcome. The 12 newly elected senators, constituting half the Senate, will serve as judges during her impeachment trial.If successfully impeached, Duterte’s eligibility for future public office will be terminated, extinguishing any presidential ambitions. A successful acquittal, however, will embolden her and her family to continue their criticism of the Marcos administration. It will also solidify their political base, allowing Duterte to advance her claim to the presidency, which she believes was rightfully hers in 2022.

Simultaneously occurring, the Marcoses are actively campaigning to diminish Duterte’s popularity and protect their own political interests. The prospect of another duterte presidency is a nightmare for the Marcos family, given the past administration’s penchant for violent retaliation and its perceived lawlessness.

The Marcos administration continues to investigate alleged financial irregularities in Duterte’s office, which has contributed to her declining performance and trust ratings. They are also scrutinizing the Duterte administration’s notorious war on drugs and the widespread police corruption that plagued its execution.

In a strategic move to appease public sentiment, the Marcos government has taken a more assertive stance against China’s encroachment in the West Philippine Sea, a policy that enjoys overwhelming support among Filipinos, in stark contrast to Duterte’s more conciliatory approach.

A Nation on the Brink

Marcos’ recent criticisms of Duterte’s suggestion to bomb senators for political gain have further intensified the political divide. Despite these confrontations, filipinos remain caught in the crossfire, yearning for a government that prioritizes their needs. The 2025 midterm elections will determine the direction of the country, and the outcome will have far-reaching consequences for Philippine politics and its foreign policy.

The ultimate losers in this power struggle, however, are the Filipino people, who are deprived of effective governance and suffer from the detrimental effects of political dynasties that prioritize self-interest over national well-being.

Given the focus on political tensions and the potential for foreign policy shifts, how might the 2025 midterm elections impact the Philippines’ relationship with its regional neighbors, notably China and the United States?

Interview: A Deep Dive into the 2025 Philippine Midterm Elections

Archyde speaks with cartel of_COVAnalytica’s Southeast Asian political analyst, Maria Isabel ‘May’ ||

leads us through the complex landscape of the 2025 Philippine midterm elections.

Q: May, the 2025 midterms are shaping up to be a critical juncture in Philippine politics. Can you tell us what’s at stake?

May: Absolutely. These elections are more than just a referendum on President Marcos Jr.’s performance. They will decide Vice-President Duterte’s political future, expose the power struggle between the marcoses and Dutertes, and ultimately set the course for the country’s governance and foreign policy.

Q: The UniTeam alliance between Marcos and Duterte seems to have frayed at the edges. Can you walk us through the key tensions?

May: Indeed, it was a marriage of convenience, driven by shared ambition and political expediency. The friction started early – Duterte’s rejection of the Defence position, accusations of corruption, public threats, and even Duterte’s impeachment orchestrated by Marcos’ cousin, Speaker Romualdez. The political dynamics have grown increasingly tense.

Q: How might the midterms impact Duterte’s future and the ongoing impeachment proceedings?

May: If the new senators elected in the midterms acquit Duterte, she will gain momentum, solidifying her political base and potentially fueling her presidential ambitions. However, if she is successfully impeached, her eligibility for future high office will be terminated, ending that chapter of her political career.

Q: Meanwhile, the Marcos administration is actively campaigning to protect its interests. What strategies are they employing?

May: The Marcoses are investigating Duterte’s financial irregularities, scrutinizing her past administration’s policies, and taking a more assertive stance against China’s incursions in the West philippine sea. They’re trying to diminish Duterte’s popularity and protect their own political interests, seeing another Duterte presidency as a threat.

Q: In all this political wrangling, where do the Filipino people stand?

May: Sadly, the Filipino people are caught in the crossfire, longing for a government that prioritizes their needs. The 2025 midterm elections will significantly impact their lives, setting the stage for either progression or stagnation in the country’s governance and affairs.

Q: What’s yoru final takeaway, May? What should Filipinos and the world watch out for in these crucial elections?

May: Filipinos deserve better than to be pawns in this power struggle. They yearn for leaders who prioritize national well-being over self-interest. The world should watch for how these elections shape Philippine governance, regional influence, and potential shifts in foreign policy. It’s a pivotal moment for the Philippines and Southeast Asia.