Jailhouse Directive: Rodrigo Duterte’s Bold Push for Sara to Reclaim Power in 2028

By Louis ‘Barok‘ C. Biraogo — July 27, 2025

IN A stark cell at The Hague, former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, chained by ICC charges for crimes against humanity, whispers a war cry to his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte: “Run.”

Half a world away, Sara ignites her Mindanao base, vowing that “no Marcos will ever seize the presidency again.” Her chilling threat—to have President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., his wife, and cousin killed if she’s assassinated—hangs like a storm cloud over Manila.

This isn’t just a family vendetta; it’s a seismic power struggle that could shatter the Philippines’ fragile democracy and crush its poorest citizens underfoot.

Dynastic Duel: A Nation Held Hostage

The Duterte-Marcos feud is no mere spat—it’s a high-stakes battle where political dynasties wield the nation’s future as a weapon.

Rodrigo Duterte, the once-unassailable strongman behind a drug war that claimed 6,000 to 30,000 lives, now orchestrates from an ICC cell.
Sara Duterte, armed with a 90% approval rating in Mindanao, positions herself as the anti-Marcos champion, betraying the UniTeam alliance that swept them to power in 2022.
Her impeachment over ₱612.5 million in alleged fund misuse and Rodrigo’s detention fuel a narrative of betrayal and corruption, exposing a rotting core: a democracy where dynasties reign unchecked.

The Philippines’ 1987 Constitution bans political dynasties, yet families like the Dutertes and Marcoses dominate.

COMELEC, the electoral commission, lacks the muscle to enforce anti-dynasty laws.
Congress—stacked with Marcos loyalists—brandishes impeachment as a political bludgeon.
The judiciary, wary of elite backlash, tiptoes around accountability.

As Sara eyes 2028, her fiery rhetoric and Rodrigo’s jailhouse endorsements reveal a system where personal vendettas trump public good, leaving democracy teetering on the brink.

The Poor’s Plight: Collateral Damage in a Power War

While elites wage their war, 20% of Filipinos—over 22 million—languish below the poverty line, battling hunger, joblessness, and crumbling schools.

Key Impacts:

The Duterte-Marcos clash diverts focus from crises, stalling reforms like agrarian land distribution and wage hikes.
In Manila’s slums, voices like Aling Rosa, a Tondo vendor, echo despair: “We hear about Sara’s impeachment, Marcos’ speeches, but where’s the rice?”
The drug war’s extrajudicial killings, which disproportionately targeted the poor, remain a festering wound.
Economic fallout: Political instability has slashed FDI by 15% since 2024, with debt servicing devouring 30% of the national budget.
Mindanao’s fishermen, caught in South China Sea disputes, face dwindling catches as elite feuds delay maritime protections.

Sara’s Gambit: People’s Champion or Dynastic Heir?

Strengths:

90% Mindanao approval and 59% nationwide—seen as heir to her father’s “law-and-order” legacy.
Frames impeachment as a Marcos-orchestrated plot, tapping into anger over 6.5% inflation and soaring rice prices.

Weaknesses:

Her threat to “kill BBM if I’m assassinated” undermines the rule of law.
Hypocrisy: Slams Marcos corruption while dodging her father’s ICC charges.
₱612.5 million fund scandal as Education Secretary erodes credibility.

Critics argue her 2028 campaign is less about reform than cementing the Duterte dynasty.

Marcos’ Counterstrike: Justice or Vengeance?

Their Case:

Impeachment framed as accountability, citing ₱612.5 million in questionable disbursements.
Touts 4.8% GDP growth in Q2 2025 (Nikkei Asia).
Accuses Sara of destabilizing governance for personal gain.

Skepticism:

Impeachment’s timing reeks of eliminating a 2028 rival.
Marcos’ 25% approval rating trails Sara’s.
Marcos family’s history of plunder fuels doubts about their anti-corruption stance.

Global Fallout: Fishermen Caught in the Crossfire

Marcos’ pro-West pivot (U.S., Canada) clashes with Dutertes’ pro-China leanings.
A Sara presidency could shift Manila toward Beijing, risking Western support.
Palawan and Zambales fishermen, harassed by Chinese vessels, face heightened vulnerability.

Trapped by Titans: Can the Philippines Break Free?

Can a nation escape its dynastic curse when alternatives—like the Aquino-led liberals, clinging to just two Senate seats—lack the firepower to challenge the giants? With 70% of elected officials hailing from dynasties and vote-buying (₱500-₱5,000 per vote) running rampant, the system strangles reform. COMELEC’s underfunded voter registration sidelines poor precincts, while disinformation from both camps’ troll armies drowns out reason. Grassroots movements, like the Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement (PRRM) and Youth for Good Governance, offer glimmers of resistance, advocating for community-driven change and transparent governance. Organizations like Gawad Kalinga, with its focus on building homes and livelihoods for the poor, provide a faint but fierce hope—yet their reach is dwarfed by dynastic might.

Shattering the Dynastic Shackles: A Call to Reclaim Philippine Democracy

The Philippines teeters on the edge of a democratic abyss, its institutions battered by the Duterte-Marcos feud and its poorest citizens abandoned in the fallout. To break free from this dynastic chokehold, the nation must act with fierce resolve. Here’s a bold blueprint to wrest power back for the people:

For Institutions: Enact the Anti-Dynasty Law

Legislative Action: Congress must pass an enabling law to enforce the 1987 Constitution’s ban on political dynasties, slamming the door on family monopolies.
- Key Provisions:
  - Cap the number of relatives allowed to hold office simultaneously.
  - Impose strict penalties for violations, backed by transparent enforcement mechanisms.
- Judicial Vigilance: The judiciary, too often a pawn of elite influence, must rise as an unyielding guardian—ensuring Sara Duterte’s ₱612.5 million fund scandal and Rodrigo’s ICC case face rigorous, impartial scrutiny.
- Outcome: Only a fortified legal framework can dismantle the dynastic machine and restore accountability.

For Global Allies: Demand Justice, Not Alliances

Leverage Foreign Aid: Canada, the U.S., and the EU wield billions in aid—use it as leverage.
- Tie every cent to uncompromising demands for judicial independence and human rights, rejecting backroom deals with dynastic powerbrokers.
- Prioritize aid for South China Sea fishermen, whose livelihoods are imperiled by geopolitical maneuvering.
- Strategic Shift: By championing the marginalized over Manila’s elites, global partners can shift the balance toward equity and justice.

For Filipinos: Unleash a Grassroots Uprising

Mobilize the Marginalized: The poor cannot wait for dynasties to fall—they must ignite change.
- Key Players:
  - Grassroots Movements: Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement (PRRM), Youth for Good Governance.
  - Alternative Leaders: Community-driven voices from Gawad Kalinga, championing sustainable development and pro-poor policies.
Tactics:
- Harness digital platforms to amplify non-dynastic narratives.
- Launch nationwide voter education campaigns to combat disinformation and expose patronage traps.
Demand Real Change: Filipinos must rally for a governance model that delivers food, jobs, and dignity—not elite vendettas.

A Revolution, Not Reform

This is not just reform—it’s a revolution. The Philippines must seize this moment to uproot a system that betrays its people, ensuring the poor are no longer pawns in a dynastic power grab.