Baste Duterte Fights Back: Defending a Dynasty Under Fire

By Louis ‘Barok‘ C. Biraogo — — September 21, 2024

SEBASTIAN ‘Baste’ Duterte, once known primarily as the laid-back youngest son of former President Rodrigo Duterte, now finds himself thrust into the heart of a political storm. As his family’s dynasty faces mounting allegations and the once-powerful Marcos-Duterte alliance crumbles, Baste’s defiant words serve as a last-ditch effort to keep their legacy alive. With mid-term elections looming, the fight for survival has never been more urgent.

The younger Duterte’s fervent defense of his sister, Vice President Sara Duterte, and his father has captured headlines, but the real drama lies beneath the surface: the escalating political war between the Dutertes and the Marcoses, two dynasties whose uneasy alliance once held the nation’s reins.

The Dutertes in the Crosshairs

Baste Duterte’s defense of his father and sister points to a larger narrative—the unraveling of the Duterte legacy. Rodrigo Duterte, once the iron-fisted leader who waged a bloody and controversial drug war, now faces accusations in Congress that question the very tactics that made him famous. The House of Representatives, through its Quad Committee (Quadcom), has launched an aggressive inquiry into the alleged abuses and extrajudicial killings carried out during Duterte’s campaign against drugs. The inquiry, in many ways, feels like a reckoning, not only for the former president but for the political machine he helped build.

For Baste, these investigations are nothing more than political theater, an attempt by Duterte’s opponents to “tarnish his image.” But this defense, however loyal, fails to grasp the full weight of the allegations—human rights abuses, violation of due process, and even potential crimes against humanity. These are not baseless charges; they stem from years of investigation by both local and international watchdogs. In fact, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has also been keenly watching, further raising the stakes.

At the same time, Sara Duterte, the vice president and a key figure in the Duterte political brand, is facing scrutiny for the alleged misuse of confidential funds in her office. The House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability has been relentless in questioning how public money was spent, casting a spotlight on Sara’s budgeting practices and the opaque nature of these funds. Baste’s defiance—challenging congressmen to reveal their own budget expenditures—has done little to quell concerns. The use of confidential funds, while legal under specific circumstances, raises serious ethical concerns, particularly when transparency is lacking.

The Marcos-Duterte Rift: A Dynastic Breakdown

Beyond the individual controversies, the larger story is the fracture of the Marcos-Duterte alliance, which once appeared to be an unassailable political juggernaut. The partnership between President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and the Dutertes was central to their shared ascent to power in 2022. But with the mid-term elections looming and the battle for 2028 on the horizon, their marriage of convenience is disintegrating.

Political alliances in the Philippines are often precarious, and history shows us that dynasties fall apart when personal ambitions clash with the need for unity. Baste’s vehement defense of his family may have won him sympathy in certain corners, but it has done little to heal the growing divide between the Dutertes and the Marcoses. Sara Duterte, once seen as a potential successor to Bongbong Marcos in the 2028 elections, now finds herself at odds with the very administration she was supposed to complement.

The House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability’s investigation of Sara’s use of confidential funds, alongside the Quadcom’s probe into Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war, underscores the Marcoses’ willingness to throw the Dutertes under the bus to maintain political control. It’s a calculated move. By distancing themselves from the controversies surrounding the Dutertes, the Marcoses can present themselves as the cleaner, more stable option for the future. But in doing so, they risk alienating Duterte’s loyal base in Mindanao, a region that was instrumental in securing Bongbong Marcos’ victory.

The Arguments and Counterarguments

For Baste Duterte and his family, the defense is simple: political opponents are exploiting these investigations for electoral gain. This is a classic strategy in Philippine politics, where smear campaigns and investigations are often used to discredit rivals. Indeed, Baste has a point. The House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability abd Quadcom’s timing—just as the mid-term elections near—raises legitimate questions about the motivations behind these probes.

But the lawmakers, for their part, argue that accountability cannot be dismissed as mere politicking. The allegations against Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war are not new, nor are they trivial. The death toll, estimated at thousands, demands scrutiny under Philippine law and international human rights standards. The Supreme Court has ruled in previous cases that extrajudicial killings, if proven, violate both the 1987 Constitution and international treaties to which the Philippines is a party, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Quadcom’s focus on these abuses is not simply about politics; it’s about ensuring that no public official is above the law.

Similarly, the allegations against Sara Duterte regarding the use of confidential funds touch on deep-rooted issues of corruption and accountability. The Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act mandates transparency and ethical use of public resources, and the Supreme Court has repeatedly upheld the need for public officials to maintain the highest standards of integrity when dealing with taxpayer money. Sara’s refusal to disclose details about her budget raises red flags, and while confidential funds are permissible under certain laws, the lack of transparency is a legitimate cause for concern.

Who Has the Upper Hand?

The Marcos camp, for now, seems to have the advantage. Their ability to capitalize on the investigations into the Dutertes has shifted public attention away from their own controversies and onto their once-ally’s shortcomings. However, this could backfire. Should the Dutertes rally their formidable political base and paint the investigations as an unjust persecution, the Marcoses could find themselves facing a united and energized opposition in 2028.

For the Dutertes, the challenge is twofold: maintaining their stronghold in Mindanao while countering the growing narrative of corruption and abuse. Baste’s defiant tone may play well with Duterte loyalists, but it does little to attract the broader electorate, many of whom are wary of the shadow Rodrigo Duterte’s presidency has cast over the nation.

Recommendations

For the Dutertes, the strategy must evolve. Instead of dismissing the allegations outright, they should consider cooperating with the investigations while simultaneously framing themselves as victims of a politically motivated smear campaign. Transparency—especially in Sara Duterte’s handling of confidential funds—could go a long way in restoring some public trust.

For the Marcoses, they must tread carefully. While weakening the Duterte camp might serve short-term political goals, alienating a powerful ally like Sara could come back to haunt them in future elections. It may be wiser to find a middle ground, ensuring that accountability is pursued without completely severing the political ties that helped them rise to power.

With 2028 around the corner, the once-unbreakable Marcos-Duterte alliance has unraveled. What remains is not a question of unity, but of supremacy—who will claim victory in this fierce political war, and who will face the bitter legacy of defeat?