There’s something deeply wrong with this notorious political family in Davao City. A family that has built its empire on a feisty facade, claiming to fight for the common people, while hiding a legacy of bloodshed and psychotic behavior.

Yes, I’m talking about the Dutertes—a name that has become synonymous with power, fear, and controversy in the Philippines. But behind the tough-guy act and the so-called ‘jokes,’ lies a darker truth that can no longer be ignored.

Let’s rewind to February 13, 2025. At a PDP-Laban rally in Club Filipino, San Juan City, former President Rodrigo Duterte made a statement that sent shockwaves across the nation.

In a mix of Filipino and English, he suggested—and I quote—’killing incumbent senators’ to create vacancies in the Senate. Yes, you heard that right. 

A former president, the so-called ‘man of the people,’ casually floated the idea of murder as a political strategy. And what did his followers do?

They laughed. They clapped. They called it a ‘joke.’ But let’s be clear: this isn’t humor. This is a chilling glimpse into the mind of a man who has normalized violence as a tool of power.

And here’s the thing: the followers reflect the leader. When you have a leader who jokes about killing senators, who brags about his bloody past, who proudly wears his ‘psychotic potty mouth’ like a badge of honor, what does that say about the people who blindly follow him? Some even excuse it as a ‘Visayan thing’—Bisaya daw kasi. 

But let me tell you something: that’s an insult to the millions of Visayans who don’t share the Dutertes’ crass, lunatic behavior. This isn’t about culture. This is about a family that has weaponized their power to manipulate, intimidate, and destroy.

Speaking of manipulation, let’s debunk one of the Dutertes’ favorite myths: the idea that they’re ‘from the streets,’ that they came from humble beginnings. The truth? Rodrigo Duterte’s father, Vicente Duterte, was a politician from Cebu who moved to Davao in the 1940s as part of a government resettlement program.

Rodrigo himself was born in Maasin, Southern Leyte, before the family relocated to Davao. Over time, they built a political dynasty, with Rodrigo serving as mayor for over two decades. So no, this isn’t a rags-to-riches story. This is a story of calculated ambition, of a family that has lied, schemed, and killed their way to the top.

And let’s not forget the apple that didn’t fall far from the tree: Sara Duterte-Carpio. The Vice President, who was recently impeached by the House of Representatives, has her own track record of insanity.

Remember her candid rant about hiring an assassin to kill President Bongbong Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez? Or her disturbing fantasy about beheading the President? This isn’t just political rivalry. This is the behavior of someone who needs her head checked—literally. And it’s not just me saying it. Over 215 members of the House of Representatives agreed, signing the impeachment complaint against her.

But here’s where it gets interesting. Despite the overwhelming support for Sara’s impeachment in the House, the Senate seems to be dragging its feet. Why? Are they afraid of the Dutertes and their army of loyalists? Or is this part of a bigger plan? Let’s not forget, the Senate is packed with Duterte allies—Bato dela Rosa, Bong Go, Imee Marcos, Pia Cayetano, and more. 

These are the same people who have enabled the Dutertes’ reign of terror for years. So why did the Marcos allies in the House vote to impeach Sara at the last minute? Because it’s all part of the plan. They’re waiting for the next Senate elections, for the Duterte minions to be voted out, for the political landscape to shift decisively in their favor. This isn’t just about impeaching Sara Duterte. This is about dismantling a dynasty built on blood, lies, and fear.

And then there’s Davao mayor Sebastian Duterte, the youngest son, who recently warned the Marcos family to avoid the fate of the Romanovs—the Russian royal family massacred by the Bolsheviks. Chilling, right? But also revealing. This isn’t just a political rivalry. This is a family that thrives on fear, on violence, on the threat of annihilation. 

And yet, the Marcos administration isn’t backing down. They know something the Dutertes don’t: the May 2025 elections are on their side. The administration’s senatorial slate has a strong chance of winning, while the Duterte-backed candidates are staring down an election purge. The tide is turning, and the Dutertes are on the wrong side of history.

The question is: are we, as a nation, ready to confront the truth about the Dutertes? Are we ready to hold them accountable for their crimes, their lies, their psychotic behavior? Or will we continue to let them manipulate us, to let their so-called ‘jokes’ distract us from the blood on their hands? The choice is ours. But remember this: silence is complicity. And in the face of tyranny, complicity is betrayal.