Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte, youngest son of former President Rodrigo Duterte and brother of Vice President Sara Duterte, fired shots at the Marcos administration on Sunday during the “Hakbang ng Maisug” or “Step for the Brave” Leaders’ Forum in Davao City.

The once-united political allies are now seen as mortal enemies, as young Duterte expressed dissatisfaction with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s governance.

Mayor Duterte minced no words, addressing President Marcos directly: “Mr. President, kung wala kang pagmamahal at aspirations sa ‘yong bansa, resign!” (Mr. President, if you do not have love and aspirations for your country, resign!).

This bold statement came after Duterte criticized the current administration’s handling of the country’s issues, including criminality, illegal drugs, and the renewed plans for peace talks with the communist CPP-NPA-NDF.

Duterte’s discontent was not limited to policy matters; he also took the opportunity to remind President Marcos of a historical decision made by his father.

Duterte emphasized that it was his father who granted the long-standing wish of the Marcos clan by allowing the hero’s burial of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in November 2016, despite opposition and legal challenges.

Expressing his deep emotions, Mayor Duterte revealed, “Nasakitan kaayo ko (I was really hurt),” in response to rumors that the International Criminal Court might enter the Philippines to investigate the killings under his father’s controversial war on drugs. He alleged that the ICC’s intentions were to imprison his father.

Sebastian Duterte’s criticism extended beyond family matters to the broader political landscape. He accused President Marcos of failing to address the country’s issues and allowing division within his administration to persist.

The younger Duterte questioned the priorities of the current leadership, stating, “If you are holding a position in government and then you prioritize… and then your love for self comes first, this is exactly what will happen.”

The event in Davao City drew not only the ire of Mayor Duterte but also hundreds of supporters of the former president, who criticized the people’s initiative advocating for charter change. Notable figures like lawyer Vic Rodriguez, former executive secretary of Marcos, and former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque also took the stage to voice their concerns.

As the Marcos-Duterte faction, once dubbed UniTeam, experiences a visible fracture, both sides staged events showcasing their influence. The Marcos administration launched the “Bagong Pilipinas (new Philippines)” movement in Manila, aiming to inspire collective action for a better country. Concurrently, a multi-sectoral prayer rally in Davao City, titled “One Nation, One Opposition,” organized by Duterte family supporters, aimed to protest ongoing efforts to change the Philippine Constitution.

The political landscape in the Philippines is witnessing a seismic shift as the once-unified forces of Duterte and Marcos now stand as bitter rivals, each making their case for the nation’s future.