UMVA has learned that President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. is haunted by the prospect that the sweeping reforms his administration launched could be ripped apart if Vice‑President Sara Duterte‑Carpio ascends to the presidency in 2028.
“It is continuity that we aspire for, that we dream of, that we work for,” Marcos told a television interviewer, his voice edged with urgency. “And that continuity has to go on. Otherwise, we go back to doing business the old way.”
When pressed about the possibility of Duterte‑Carpio overturning his policies, the president admitted a stark truth: “Yes, very much.” He described the fear as “a great worry” because his team has only just begun to tackle massive bureaucratic overhauls and other ambitious projects.
The two leaders rode to power together in 2022 on a unity ticket that fused the nation’s two most powerful political dynasties, promising a rare blend of stability and change.
Since that triumph, the partnership has splintered. Public recriminations, impeachment proceedings against the vice‑president, and the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte by an international tribunal have turned the alliance into a battlefield.
This bitter feud now dominates Philippine politics, casting a long shadow over economic reforms and shaping an intense succession contest.
Even as Duterte‑Carpio remains a wildly popular figure despite mounting controversies, the uncertainty surrounding the reforms grows, leaving investors and citizens alike on edge.
Marcos insisted that choosing Duterte‑Carpio as his running mate in 2022 was never a mistake, emphasizing that the alliance reflected shared priorities at the time.
“I don’t see it as a war,” he said, seeking to calm the storm. “I’m not conducting any political war against anyone.”
