by PHAR KIM BENG
Opposed political clans on a collision course that threatens to divide security forces, spark violence and destabilize government
The Philippines has seen its fair share of dynastic rivalries.
But the deepening conflict between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr and former President Rodrigo Duterte, recently escalated by the latter’s arrest and transfer to the Netherlands for trial, is more than just a political battle—it is a blood feud with dangerous consequences for governance, security and the wider region.
Unlike mere political rivalries, blood feuds in the Philippine context involve personal vengeance, loyalty betrayals and the mobilization of private armies, political clans and illicit financial networks.
In Tagalog, dugo’t-higantihan (blood feud) refers to long-standing enmities that go beyond political differences; they are generational struggles driven by perceived betrayals, dishonor and thirst for revenge.
Filipino scholars such as Jose Abueva and Alfred McCoy have documented how such feuds, often rooted in local padrino (patron-client) systems, can destabilize entire provinces and, at times, the national government itself. McCoy famously referred to the country as an “anarchy of families.”
The Marcos-Duterte feud is no exception—it is fueled by Duterte’s view that Marcos Jr is an ungrateful leader who benefited from his support, only to discard him and his allies once in power.
But this is not just about personal grievances. The battle for supremacy between these two political titans is believed to be fragmenting power centers across the country, proliferating violence through the spread of small arms and illicit funds from POGOs (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators) and the drug trade.
Worse, this instability is spilling over into ASEAN, posing a direct risk to Malaysia, Indonesia and the broader regional security framework.
State in jeopardy
Duterte’s political machine—rooted in Davao, Mindanao, and the powerful political clans of the south—has been actively undermining Marcos Jr’s authority. With Congress divided and local warlords sensing opportunity in the new headline-grabbing crisis, the political landscape is tilting toward uncertainty.
The Philippine military, which has historically played kingmaker during leadership crises, is also showing certain signs of division.
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