Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte delivered a fiery speech against President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. during the 88th Araw ng Dabaw celebration, condemning the recent arrest of his father, former President Rodrigo Duterte.
Addressing the crowd, Mayor Duterte expressed outrage over what he called an “illegal” arrest, vowing to resist any attempts to silence their family and supporters. He also directed harsh words at Marcos, questioning his leadership and accusing him of betrayal.
The arrest of the 79-year-old former president has ignited widespread debate across the country. Duterte was taken into custody upon his return to Manila from Hong Kong and later transferred to the Scheveningen Prison in The Netherlands, where he awaits trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The ICC has charged Duterte with crimes against humanity, alleging that his administration’s anti-drug campaign led to thousands of extrajudicial killings. Despite the Philippines’ withdrawal from the ICC in 2019, the court maintains that it has jurisdiction over crimes committed before the withdrawal took effect.
Mayor Duterte’s strong remarks signal growing tensions between the Duterte and Marcos camps, as supporters continue to protest the former president’s detention.
