Baste Duterte slams Marcos over father’s ICC arrest
Metro Manila, Philippines - Davao City Mayor Sebastian "Baste" Duterte launched a scathing attack against President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. during the 88th Araw ng Dabaw celebration on Sunday, March 16, denouncing what he called the "illegal" arrest of his father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Speaking before a crowd at San Pedro Square, Mayor Duterte did not hold back his disappointment and anger, as chants of "Marcos resign!" erupted from the audience.
"Mr. President Marcos, you will never be loved! Especially by us who are calling out Rody Duterte’s name," he declared.
"You will never be loved, Mr. Marcos."
The Davao mayor also recalled how his father, as president, approved the burial of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. at the Libingan ng mga Bayani on November 18, 2016. The burial was carried out quietly and with military honors, sparking protests and national controversy.
"Your father was buried by my father. My father, you put in jail… P*tang *na mo!" he exclaimed, further escalating tensions between the Duterte and Marcos camps.
Davao stands behind Duterte
The Araw ng Dabaw celebration this year took a different turn as supporters of the former president turned the event into a rallying cry for his release. Banners and placards with the message "Bring FPRRD Home" were seen across the city, as Dabawenyos expressed their unwavering support for Duterte.
Earlier this week, Mayor Duterte questioned the Marcos administration’s role in the ICC’s actions.
"This is not the Philippine National Police serving a warrant since they cannot even justify their actions. This is a political maneuver by the Bongbong Marcos administration. Be prepared no matter what," he warned.
"The Marcos administration is fantasizing that this scenario would materialize, hoping that the issue on the national budget would just go away. The smell of desperation," he added.
ICC case and human rights concerns
Former President Duterte appeared before a pre-trial hearing on Friday, March 14, with a confirmation of charges hearing scheduled for September 23.
Mayor Duterte lashed out at President Marcos, saying, "Aside from you not being loved by the people, all you have is the government’s resources and your term. Beyond that, you are nothing."
The ICC case has reignited discussions on Duterte’s controversial war on drugs, which resulted in at least 6,000 deaths according to government figures. However, human rights groups estimate the toll to be as high as 30,000, including political activists and individuals subjected to extrajudicial killings.
In April last year, Mayor Duterte declared a new "war on drugs," reminiscent of his father’s bloody anti-drug campaign. Within 24 hours of his announcement, five individuals were killed in police raids, with at least seven more fatalities in the following days, according to Human Rights Watch.
