Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte delivered a scathing critique of the ongoing people’s initiative to amend the constitution during a prayer rally in Davao City on Sunday.
Accusing the Marcoses of seeking to perpetuate their power, Duterte targeted President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., branding him as “bangag,” a derogatory term in Filipino suggesting drug use or addiction.
In a seemingly ominous threat, Duterte warned, “Mr. President, baka susunod ka sa dinaanan ng tatay mo” (Mr. President, you might follow the same path as your father).
The rally coincided with Marcos’s Bagong Pilipinas kickoff event at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila.
Duterte did not shy away from accusing Marcos of drug addiction, drawing parallels with the fate of his father, Ferdinand Marcos Sr., who was ousted from power in 1986 by the People Power Revolution.
Duterte revealed a past encounter during his mayoralty when the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) allegedly presented evidence, including Marcos’s name on a list of suspects.
“Nung ako mayor, pinakitaan ako ng evidence ng PDEA. Doon sa listahan, nandoon yung pangalan mo,” Duterte stated, emphasizing their past friendship.
Expressing concern, he added, “Mr. President, baka susunod ka sa dinaanan ng tatay mo. Diyan ako takot. Ayaw ko mangyari sa iyo ‘yan. Ako lang nagmamakaawa kasi it will divide the nation at madugo itong panahong ito” (Mr. President, you might follow the same path as your father. That’s what I fear. I don’t want that to happen to you. I’m just pleading because it will divide the nation, and this time will be bloody).
This is not the first time the former president has done this. During the 2022 presidential campaign period in November 2021, then-President Duterte claimed that there was one presidential candidate “using cocaine.”
During that time, Duterte went on to describe that candidate as “He is a very weak leader … except for the name.”
“What contribution has he made for the Philippines? I just want to ask,” he inquired.
Addressing President Marcos, Duterte highlighted the responsibility one holds for their actions, stating, “Hindi ako hihingi ng tawad. Kagagawan mo yan eh. It is your responsibilities sa sarili mo. What you do in this world binds you, iyo yan. Wag mong sisihin ang ibang tao kasi sarili mong utak at katawan yan” (I’m not going to ask for forgiveness. It’s your doing. It is your responsibilities to yourself. What you do in this world binds you; it’s your own mind and body. Don’t blame others).
Duterte, known for his multilingual speeches, accused the push for a people’s initiative of aiming to strengthen the Marcoses’ hold on power, expressing strong criticism of his successor.
He hinted at a potential return to politics, saying, “Magdasal lang ako, if by the grace of god mabalik lang ako…” (I’ll just pray, if by the grace of God, I can return…), suggesting a miraculous return rather than a factual scenario.
In a veiled threat against House Speaker Martin Romualdez, Duterte asserted, “Putang-ina kung mabalik lang ako, arestohin ko kayong lahat for the swindling of the Filipino people, you committed fraud. Pinagsayangan ninyo ang pera namin” (Son of a bitch, if I come back, I’ll arrest all of you for swindling the Filipino people; you committed fraud. You wasted our money).
Calling on the military and police, Duterte urged them to prevent potential bloodshed and rallies, emphasizing the power they hold to correct any wrongdoing.
“Alam ninyo kung hindi na talaga ito mapigilan, andiyan ang military at police, makinig kayo… pag-aralan ninyo kung anong pinapakain nila sa taumbayan, at pagka nakita ninyo kung ano ang mali, you correct it. Nasa inyong kamay na ‘yan,” he warned.
He brought up his case at the International Criminal Court, claiming accusations of extrajudicial killings during his term.
“Ayun ang bakit ako nagkaroon ng kaso ng ICC. Sabi nila pinapagpatay ko daw ‘yung mga drug pusher at drug addict. Mabuti na lang wala na ako sa pwesto baka kasali ka pa, Mr. President,” he said.
“Pinilit ninyo kami, kayo yung nag-ano…kayo yung…sa Bisaya, kinikitoy mo ang Pilipino. You are testing the waters…You are pushing to the limits ang pasensya ng Pilipino. Huwag na huwag mong gawin ‘yun. Huwag mong gawin ‘yan, tayo magkagulo. Pag di namin napilitan kayo sa mga rallies, sa mga boses ang sentimiyento namin…sorry…ang sinasabi ko sa military… naghe-hemmorhage ang bayan. Gastos dito, gastos doon. Tapos kung mag-ispeech, ang pinagusapan and p-g inang pobreng Pilipino. Ang military, maawa kayo sa bayan. Pag di namin kaya, gawin na ninyo. Gawin na ninyo, kawawa ang Pilipino.”
Duterte concluded his address by turning his attention to Congress, expressing distrust and calling for military intervention in the event of a crisis.
“P-ng ina ninyo, wala akong tiwala sa inyo,” he said. “Wala kayong prinsipyo, mukhang pera kayong lahat. ‘Yan ang totoo. Kaya ang gusto ko pag nagka-letse-letse na, pumasok ang military…palitan ninyo lahat, arestuhin ninyo kasi nagsasayang ng pera at yung ginagastos nila is a fraud. Swindling ang ginawa nila. You must account for the wasted money or the money that you bought the signature of the Filipino…bribery,” he said.
He defended the current Constitution as a “permanent thing” and criticized those advocating for changes as seeking to perpetuate their power.
“Ang batas na binigay ng Constitution sa Congress, sa lawmakers, they can make notes everyday, modify, change it if you want. Every week. OK lang ‘yan. Huwag niyo pakialaman ang Constitution kasi yun ang bahay opisyal ng Pilipino…anak ka ng…bakit pumasok sa utak ninyo ‘yang people’s initiative? Anong nakain ninyo? There’s nothing wrong with the Constitution right now.”
“”Ano ba, what’s wrong with the Constitution, tell me, kung hindi ‘yung inyong ambisyon? The real purpose nitong constitutional changes sa people’s initiative is really to perpetuate those who are in power,” he added.
Vice President Sara Duterte, who attended the Bagong Pilipinas rally, left before Marcos’s arrival, flying to Davao City to address the event.
At the Duterte-led rally, Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte, the former president’s son and the vice president’s brother, warned Marcos to remember historical figures ousted from power and killed.
The rally also featured Duterte addressing his age, denying candidacy, and explaining constitutional amendment processes.
The Daily Netizen 