Former President Rodrigo Duterte is once again making headlines with his latest tirade against President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., this time accusing him—again—of being a drug user. Speaking at a proclamation rally for his senatorial candidates, Duterte resurrected the claim he first made in 2021, but this time with even more venom, fueling speculation about his true motives.

If Duterte truly believed Marcos Jr. was a drug user, why did he endorse him in 2022? Why did he allow his own daughter, Sara Duterte, to run alongside him as vice president? Why didn’t he take action against Marcos Jr. during his bloody drug war? These contradictions expose the former president’s latest outburst as nothing more than political posturing.

Duterte’s so-called “war on drugs” was nothing but a facade—a brutal campaign that disproportionately targeted the poor while leaving powerful figures untouched. Billions in confidential and intelligence funds (CIF) flowed through his administration, yet until now, the public has no clear accounting of where that money went. Meanwhile, many of Duterte’s close allies have been rumored to have links to the drug trade, yet he never wielded his iron fist against them.

Duterte’s recent statements are not about the truth; they are about political survival. His family’s influence is waning, his loyalists are scrambling to stay relevant, and his daughter’s alliance with Marcos Jr. has crumbled. His accusations are nothing more than desperate attempts to maintain relevance and rally his base.

The reality is, Duterte’s presidency will be remembered as one of the darkest chapters in Philippine history—a time of extrajudicial killings, human rights abuses, red-tagging, and unchecked corruption. Marcos Jr. may have his own flaws, but Duterte attacking him on drugs is the height of hypocrisy.

And let’s not forget the other major player in this political circus: Vice President Sara Duterte, the so-called “Confidential Fund Queen,” whose multi-billion peso secret funds remain a mystery. Between a self-confessed murderer, an alleged drug user, and a leader who thrives on unaccountable spending, the Philippines needs real leaders—not more of the same.

Instead of getting trapped in this cycle of deception, Filipinos should look ahead to the 2025 elections and support candidates with integrity and a real vision for the country. It’s time to break free from the rule of the corrupt and the incompetent. The nation deserves better.(Tambuli Ng Bayan-Ronnie Estrada)
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