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2025: The Philippines in The Midst of Midterm Squabbles
We can expect the Marcos and Duterte power struggle to intensify this year as their potential allies fight for positions in the coming elections.
Kendrick Sy Go
2025-01-16T10:10:15.490Z
Whatever 2025 holds for the people of the Philippines, we can guarantee at least one thing: it will not be what the Marcoses and the Dutertes promised us.
Let’s look back before looking forward.
En route to the 2022 Philippine Presidential elections, the tandem of incumbent Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his Vice President Sara Duterte vowed to uphold “unity” for the country. It was a simple platform and, based on the results of that election, it was an effective one.
It managed to capture the favor of people historically known for their relationality and love of community and it won both Marcos and Duterte their respective races by large margins. Insider gossip during the campaign period even included claims that the camp of former Vice President Leni Robredo (Marcos’ closest rival) wanted to work with a similar message but the Marcos camp got to it first.
In any case, this was the primary promise of the so called “UniTeam” tandem and for a time, they stuck to it. The two were quite supportive of each other. Marcos had praised Duterte in the past and Duterte even drew flack for revealing that Malacañang—with Marcos’ blessing—allowed her to use the a government chopper so she can go home to her kids.
But just last year, the country began moving towards the mid-term elections—a time historically known for seeing the reformation or fortification of political alliances as the country gears up for the next presidential race. And, from the looks of it, the Uniteam tandem won’t be renewing their partnership allowing division to cascade into the political arena.
Various sources claim that the rift between the two truly began when Marcos Jr. made Duterte the Education Secretary after openly acknowledging that she wanted to be the head of the Department of National Defense. There are other opinions, however.
Social media users fixate on the behavior of Duterte’s loudest advocates: the vloggers and users who suddenly became overly critical of Marcos even though they let a lot of his mistakes pass during the campaign season. Others, however, point to a different period.
Dwight De Leon, for example, is reporter of Rappler who covered the elections and the Office of the President before going back to reporting on the House of Representatives. According to him, Marcos Jr. and Duterte still tried to “play nice” after Duterte became the head of the Department of Education (DepEd.) The atmosphere started being progressively chilly, however, after Gloria Macapagal Arroyo—a longtime ally of the Dutertes—was demoted from her post as a senior deputy speaker in 2023.
After this, Duterte resigned from Lakas CMD, the party of the President’s cousin and incumbent Speaker Martin Romualdez. She also started making remarks fueling rumors of a spat between them. Soon enough, the Congress started questioning the suspicious elements of Duterte’s projects as VP and then-Secretary of Education. Meanwhile, Duterte’s opinions about her running mate and his family started getting more pointed. A few months later, after Duterte resigned from her post as DepEd Secretary, she started becoming more keen on besmirching the Marcos regime and the president’s family while Marcos’ allies began to openly chastise her.
Flash forward to a few months later and now we have a video featuring Duterte threatening to have Marcos Jr. and his allies killed should anything happen to her. The President, meanwhile, responded to Duterte’s tirades finally by saying that he does not take such threats lightly. Moves to impeach the VP have also been made in Congress because of the allegations of corruption tied to the DepEd as well as her office.
This year, the midterm elections will occur. Allies of both the President and the VP will be jockeying for positions of power in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. And it will occur under the shadow of the Marcos-Duterte feud shaping debates and fueling division.
Adding to the political drama is the push to impeach the VP. This move has sent shockwaves across the political spectrum, with supporters and detractors locked in a heated debate over its motivations and implications. Proponents argue that the impeachment proceedings are rooted in allegations of corruption and misuse of public funds. Critics, however, see it as a politically motivated attack aimed at weakening the Duterte camp ahead of the presidential elections which Duterte now admits to being interested in. Notably, these are the usual comebacks to the allegations she faces: none having enough teeth to actually defend the anomalies her office had been criticized for.
Regardless, the controversy has further deepened the rift between Duterte and Marcos which can seem inevitable due to their differences.
The Duterte faction continues to draw its strength from its populist legacy, emphasizing law-and-order policies, and supposed grassroots initiatives marketed by the administration of Marcos Jr.’s predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte. Meanwhile, the Marcos camp has rallied behind promises of economic revival and national unity (once again,) tapping into nostalgia among its loyalists who supposedly remember the reign of dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr fondly.
The Dutertes have also been very vocal allies of China which has been harassing Filipinos at the contested parts of the West Philippine Sea. Their support for the Red Giant is pronounced though members of that family have long courted votes and promised that “change is coming” through projections of toughness and nationalism. Marcos Jr. meanwhile, has taken a firm stance in defending the country’s sovereignty—which is being billed by his critics as an attempt to satisfy longtime American allies who they alleged will not aid the Philippines in armed conflict even though the US has been long weary of China’s growing influence in Southeast Asia.
In spite of such differences however, the two have many similarities. For starters, both Marcos and Duterte come from long-established political dynasties that have their own regional strongholds loyal to them. Both continue to be targets of progressive groups politically stifled when they had unity. And both have also become the stars of a teleserye-like feud that has shifted the focus away from critical policy debates on issues like the economy—a matter that should be a crucial point of discussion this year.
Economic Outlook: Progress Amid Uncertainty
The Philippines enters 2025 with a mixed economic outlook, balancing recovery efforts with the uncertainties of an election year. Key sectors such as IT-BPM, tourism, and remittances from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are driving growth. However, inflation and global economic pressures remain persistent challenges.
Infrastructure development under the "Build Better More" initiative continues to provide a backbone for economic activity. Major projects in transportation, energy, and digital connectivity have created jobs and improved access to essential services. However, election-related uncertainty could disrupt progress if political transitions lead to shifts in priorities.
Foreign investors, crucial for funding large-scale infrastructure, are watching the elections closely—even if it isn’t presidential. A stable political environment and consistent economic policies will be essential to maintaining their confidence. Incoming politicians must demonstrate a clear commitment to infrastructure continuity while addressing bottlenecks in implementation.
Remittances from OFWs remain a critical pillar of the economy, providing a safety net for millions of Filipino households. However, over-reliance on these inflows highlights structural weaknesses in domestic job creation. The 2025 elections bring heightened scrutiny to proposals for strengthening local industries and reducing economic dependence on labor exportation.
Meanwhile, inflation remains a pressing issue, particularly for low- and middle-income families. Rising food and energy prices have intensified calls for targeted subsidies and reforms in agricultural productivity. Candidates have made bold promises on these fronts, but experts emphasize the need for fiscal discipline and long-term strategies over short-term populist measures.
Economic inequality also looms large, with wealth disparities becoming increasingly visible. Urban centers benefit from modernization efforts, while rural areas lag behind in access to basic services. Bridging this divide will require policies that prioritize inclusive growth, ensuring that economic gains are felt across all sectors of society.
But of course, such policies can only be realized if politicians do their jobs.
At a Crossroads--again
In 2025, the mid-term elections will happen and people will once again get the chance to shape the fate country through their votes. Their options have many familiar faces: career politicians who have spent years in the halls of legislation and neophytes elevated to national renown thanks to their association with the Duterte clan. There are also longtime household names who acquired fame as public figures eyeing to join the political arena.
Many of these choices can affect the Marcos and Duterte feud. People can pick pro-Marcos bets and better secure the chances of his camp in 2028 presidential elections. And since Duterte has declared the possibility of her running for president, she now has a growing though still informal campaign against the Marcos administration which people can support by electing her sworn allies.
But these aren’t the only options of the public. Throughout the list of candidates are a number of outliers. For one, there are returning candidates who have lost previous elections thanks in part to the smear campaign launched by the supporters of the now defunct Uniteam tandem. There are also a number of fresh faces who have gained popularity in social media thanks to the push of progressive forces.
The odds aren’t necessarily in their favor if recent surveys are to be believed. And they will not have the machinery of the candidates from the warring camps. But what they will have are names unmarred by time in office.
If they make promises, they will not do so saddled with the history of the ones they’ve already broken—like the “change” that was supposed to be coming but never came, or “unity.”
Let’s look back before looking forward.
En route to the 2022 Philippine Presidential elections, the tandem of incumbent Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his Vice President Sara Duterte vowed to uphold “unity” for the country. It was a simple platform and, based on the results of that election, it was an effective one.
It managed to capture the favor of people historically known for their relationality and love of community and it won both Marcos and Duterte their respective races by large margins. Insider gossip during the campaign period even included claims that the camp of former Vice President Leni Robredo (Marcos’ closest rival) wanted to work with a similar message but the Marcos camp got to it first.
In any case, this was the primary promise of the so called “UniTeam” tandem and for a time, they stuck to it. The two were quite supportive of each other. Marcos had praised Duterte in the past and Duterte even drew flack for revealing that Malacañang—with Marcos’ blessing—allowed her to use the a government chopper so she can go home to her kids.
But just last year, the country began moving towards the mid-term elections—a time historically known for seeing the reformation or fortification of political alliances as the country gears up for the next presidential race. And, from the looks of it, the Uniteam tandem won’t be renewing their partnership allowing division to cascade into the political arena.
Various sources claim that the rift between the two truly began when Marcos Jr. made Duterte the Education Secretary after openly acknowledging that she wanted to be the head of the Department of National Defense. There are other opinions, however.
Social media users fixate on the behavior of Duterte’s loudest advocates: the vloggers and users who suddenly became overly critical of Marcos even though they let a lot of his mistakes pass during the campaign season. Others, however, point to a different period.
Dwight De Leon, for example, is reporter of Rappler who covered the elections and the Office of the President before going back to reporting on the House of Representatives. According to him, Marcos Jr. and Duterte still tried to “play nice” after Duterte became the head of the Department of Education (DepEd.) The atmosphere started being progressively chilly, however, after Gloria Macapagal Arroyo—a longtime ally of the Dutertes—was demoted from her post as a senior deputy speaker in 2023.
After this, Duterte resigned from Lakas CMD, the party of the President’s cousin and incumbent Speaker Martin Romualdez. She also started making remarks fueling rumors of a spat between them. Soon enough, the Congress started questioning the suspicious elements of Duterte’s projects as VP and then-Secretary of Education. Meanwhile, Duterte’s opinions about her running mate and his family started getting more pointed. A few months later, after Duterte resigned from her post as DepEd Secretary, she started becoming more keen on besmirching the Marcos regime and the president’s family while Marcos’ allies began to openly chastise her.
Flash forward to a few months later and now we have a video featuring Duterte threatening to have Marcos Jr. and his allies killed should anything happen to her. The President, meanwhile, responded to Duterte’s tirades finally by saying that he does not take such threats lightly. Moves to impeach the VP have also been made in Congress because of the allegations of corruption tied to the DepEd as well as her office.
This year, the midterm elections will occur. Allies of both the President and the VP will be jockeying for positions of power in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. And it will occur under the shadow of the Marcos-Duterte feud shaping debates and fueling division.
Adding to the political drama is the push to impeach the VP. This move has sent shockwaves across the political spectrum, with supporters and detractors locked in a heated debate over its motivations and implications. Proponents argue that the impeachment proceedings are rooted in allegations of corruption and misuse of public funds. Critics, however, see it as a politically motivated attack aimed at weakening the Duterte camp ahead of the presidential elections which Duterte now admits to being interested in. Notably, these are the usual comebacks to the allegations she faces: none having enough teeth to actually defend the anomalies her office had been criticized for.
Regardless, the controversy has further deepened the rift between Duterte and Marcos which can seem inevitable due to their differences.
The Duterte faction continues to draw its strength from its populist legacy, emphasizing law-and-order policies, and supposed grassroots initiatives marketed by the administration of Marcos Jr.’s predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte. Meanwhile, the Marcos camp has rallied behind promises of economic revival and national unity (once again,) tapping into nostalgia among its loyalists who supposedly remember the reign of dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr fondly.
The Dutertes have also been very vocal allies of China which has been harassing Filipinos at the contested parts of the West Philippine Sea. Their support for the Red Giant is pronounced though members of that family have long courted votes and promised that “change is coming” through projections of toughness and nationalism. Marcos Jr. meanwhile, has taken a firm stance in defending the country’s sovereignty—which is being billed by his critics as an attempt to satisfy longtime American allies who they alleged will not aid the Philippines in armed conflict even though the US has been long weary of China’s growing influence in Southeast Asia.
In spite of such differences however, the two have many similarities. For starters, both Marcos and Duterte come from long-established political dynasties that have their own regional strongholds loyal to them. Both continue to be targets of progressive groups politically stifled when they had unity. And both have also become the stars of a teleserye-like feud that has shifted the focus away from critical policy debates on issues like the economy—a matter that should be a crucial point of discussion this year.
Economic Outlook: Progress Amid Uncertainty
The Philippines enters 2025 with a mixed economic outlook, balancing recovery efforts with the uncertainties of an election year. Key sectors such as IT-BPM, tourism, and remittances from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are driving growth. However, inflation and global economic pressures remain persistent challenges.
Infrastructure development under the "Build Better More" initiative continues to provide a backbone for economic activity. Major projects in transportation, energy, and digital connectivity have created jobs and improved access to essential services. However, election-related uncertainty could disrupt progress if political transitions lead to shifts in priorities.
Foreign investors, crucial for funding large-scale infrastructure, are watching the elections closely—even if it isn’t presidential. A stable political environment and consistent economic policies will be essential to maintaining their confidence. Incoming politicians must demonstrate a clear commitment to infrastructure continuity while addressing bottlenecks in implementation.
Remittances from OFWs remain a critical pillar of the economy, providing a safety net for millions of Filipino households. However, over-reliance on these inflows highlights structural weaknesses in domestic job creation. The 2025 elections bring heightened scrutiny to proposals for strengthening local industries and reducing economic dependence on labor exportation.
Meanwhile, inflation remains a pressing issue, particularly for low- and middle-income families. Rising food and energy prices have intensified calls for targeted subsidies and reforms in agricultural productivity. Candidates have made bold promises on these fronts, but experts emphasize the need for fiscal discipline and long-term strategies over short-term populist measures.
Economic inequality also looms large, with wealth disparities becoming increasingly visible. Urban centers benefit from modernization efforts, while rural areas lag behind in access to basic services. Bridging this divide will require policies that prioritize inclusive growth, ensuring that economic gains are felt across all sectors of society.
But of course, such policies can only be realized if politicians do their jobs.
At a Crossroads--again
In 2025, the mid-term elections will happen and people will once again get the chance to shape the fate country through their votes. Their options have many familiar faces: career politicians who have spent years in the halls of legislation and neophytes elevated to national renown thanks to their association with the Duterte clan. There are also longtime household names who acquired fame as public figures eyeing to join the political arena.
Many of these choices can affect the Marcos and Duterte feud. People can pick pro-Marcos bets and better secure the chances of his camp in 2028 presidential elections. And since Duterte has declared the possibility of her running for president, she now has a growing though still informal campaign against the Marcos administration which people can support by electing her sworn allies.
But these aren’t the only options of the public. Throughout the list of candidates are a number of outliers. For one, there are returning candidates who have lost previous elections thanks in part to the smear campaign launched by the supporters of the now defunct Uniteam tandem. There are also a number of fresh faces who have gained popularity in social media thanks to the push of progressive forces.
The odds aren’t necessarily in their favor if recent surveys are to be believed. And they will not have the machinery of the candidates from the warring camps. But what they will have are names unmarred by time in office.
If they make promises, they will not do so saddled with the history of the ones they’ve already broken—like the “change” that was supposed to be coming but never came, or “unity.”
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