Philippine President Marcos Jr. Open To Making Peace With Duterte Family

New Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (Wikimedia Commons/Presidential Communications Office)

JAKARTA - Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said it was open to making peace with Duterte's family, one week after his exile ally of Vice President, Sara Duterte, exceeded expectations in the Senate election that were essential and up for grabs.

In a podcast shared on his Facebook page on Monday President Marcos Jr. said he needed friends instead of enemies, as he sought to use the remaining three years of his term of office to carry out his agenda.

"Yes," Marcos said when asked if he would be open to improving relations, after fierce and open disputes between Marcos and Duterte's camp, which had divided the former strong alliance that led the two to victory in 2022.

It is known that the President of the Philippines is limited to one term of office for six years.

"As much as possible, what I'm looking for is stability, so we can do our job. That's why I'm always open to things like that," he said in the podcast.

Duterte's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Marcos' statement.

Sara Duterte faces a Senate impeachment trial that could see her removed from office and barred from holding public office on permanent basis, so she cannot run for president in 2028.

Meanwhile, his father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, was elected Mayor of Davao last week, even as he was detained at the International Criminal Court on charges of murder as a crime against humanity.

Although surveys predict the Senate's major victory by presidential allies in the May 12 election, several victories by Duterte's side candidates have given Sara Duterte an important foothold in the Senate that could prove important in impeachment trials.

The 24 Senators will serve as judges in the trial, with two-thirds of the votes needed to support impeachment for success.

President Marcos himself has distanced himself from the impeachment process, and on Monday said the process was in the hands of the Senate.

"There is a process for that, let's let the process run properly," he said.