13/03/2026
The relationship between Rodrigo Duterte and Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (Bongbong Marcos) was mainly a political alliance that evolved over time—starting with cooperation, reaching a powerful partnership, and later becoming strained.
How Their Alliance Started
Their political friendship began around 2016 during the national elections. Duterte ran for president while Marcos Jr. ran for vice president. Marcos lost the vice presidency to Leni Robredo, but Duterte publicly showed sympathy toward Marcos and even supported the election protest questioning the results. This created an early political connection and mutual respect between the two camps.
When the Alliance Became Strong
Their partnership became much stronger before the 2022 national elections. Duterte allowed his daughter, Sara Duterte, to run as vice president alongside Marcos Jr. instead of running for president herself. This created the powerful Marcos–Duterte tandem, which won by a huge margin in the 2022 Philippine presidential election.
At this point, their alliance was at its strongest, combining two of the most influential political families in the Philippines.
Why the Relationship Started to Weaken
After Marcos Jr. became president in 2022, political differences slowly appeared between the Marcos and Duterte camps.
Some key reasons include:
1. Foreign Policy Differences
Marcos strengthened ties with the United States, including expanding military cooperation under agreements like Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement. Duterte, who had previously leaned toward China during his presidency, criticized this direction.
2. Political Tensions and Power Struggles
Allies of Duterte and Marcos began having disagreements within the government and political parties. Some supporters felt the alliance was no longer as united as it was during the election.
3. Public Criticism
Duterte and some members of his camp occasionally made critical remarks about policies and decisions under the Marcos administration, showing that the relationship had cooled.
How Long the Alliance Lasted
• Beginning: Around 2016
• Strongest period: 2021–2022 elections
• Started weakening: 2023 onward
Overall, their political alliance lasted around 6–8 years, though its strength changed over time—from cooperation, to a powerful election partnership, and later to a more distant relationship.