The Philippines, a nation long accustomed to dynastic politics and public spectacle, now finds itself transfixed by an unprecedented family feud at the very heart of its government. The Marcos family, whose name has dominated the country’s political landscape for decades, is embroiled in a bitter and public rift that threatens not only their own legacy but also the stability of the country’s leadership. As the feud between President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and his sister, Senator Imee Marcos, spills into the open, the nation is left wondering: if blood is no longer thicker than water among the country’s most powerful clan, what hope remains for unity at the top?
It all began with whispers of discontent. For years, the Marcoses relied on the myth of the “Solid North”—a region unwaveringly loyal to their name—and the idea that the family’s unity was unbreakable. But recent events have shattered that illusion. In a move that shocked allies and adversaries alike, Senator Imee Marcos publicly distanced herself from her brother’s ruling coalition, the Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas, setting off a cascade of political and personal attacks that have grown only more vicious with time.
According to TIME, the feud reached a boiling point on November 17, 2025, when Imee Marcos took to the stage at a massive anti-corruption rally in Manila. Addressing a crowd of around half a million, she made a stunning accusation: “Ever since Bongbong and I were kids, the whole family already knew the problem about him,” she declared. “Back then, because our father was still around, he wasn’t my responsibility yet. As he grew older, it became more concerning. I knew that he was using drugs.” The charge, leveled with no concrete evidence, sent shockwaves through the political establishment and fueled speculation about the true state of affairs within the presidential palace.
The drama didn’t stop there. Imee’s accusations were quickly seized upon by the Duterte political dynasty, the Marcoses’ former allies and now their fiercest rivals. Paolo Duterte, son of former President Rodrigo Duterte, joined the chorus, calling for a full investigation into the allegations against Bongbong Marcos and his cousin, former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, who was also implicated in the ongoing flood control corruption scandal. The Dutertes, emboldened by recent electoral successes and eager for a political comeback, saw an opportunity to direct public outrage at the embattled President.
As TIME reported, the corruption scandal itself is no small matter. Public protests have erupted across the country over claims that 56 billion Philippine pesos—about $950 million—were siphoned off from flood control projects, with both the Marcos and Duterte camps trading accusations. President Marcos Jr. addressed the issue in his State of the Nation speech in July, promising action, but critics have accused his administration of moving too slowly and lacking resolve. The President’s trust ratings have dipped, as have those of Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio, who has not hesitated to take shots at her former running mate. In a video posted to her Facebook page, Duterte-Carpio stated, “The President now faces a profound crisis of confidence, especially in the way these corruption investigations are being handled, which appear to lack both direction and resolve.” Days earlier, she went even further, suggesting that Marcos Jr. should jail himself over the scandal.
Behind the headlines, political analysts see a deeper game at play. Jean Encinas-Franco, a political science professor at the University of the Philippines, told TIME, “People have tried to divert the situation, the gravity of the situation, in so many ways. It veers away from the real issue, which is the current investigations, which should be expedited.” Instead, the corruption scandal has become a weapon in the ongoing war for power between the Marcoses and the Dutertes. Aries Arugay, a visiting fellow at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, added, “Both the Marcos and the Duterte camps are using this to hit one another. It really, unfortunately, has become basically a political weapon. And it really depends on who uses it in a smarter way.”
The spectacle has not gone unnoticed by the public—or by younger members of the Marcos clan. Sandro Marcos, the President’s son, publicly condemned his aunt, calling her “a betrayer, nothing more than a political opportunist.” The younger generation, forced to choose sides, is now caught in the crossfire of a family war that has become a national crisis. The once-mighty “Solid North” brand, built on the illusion of unity and strength, now appears irreparably damaged.
Even the President’s spokesperson, Claire Castro, weighed in, urging Imee Marcos to “help in the investigation that your own brother has been doing. You should condemn all those corrupt—don’t side with them, don’t hide them. Let President Marcos Jr. work to stop all the corruption.” Castro went further, questioning the Vice President’s own record on corruption during her time as Davao mayor: “Did she ever do anything to hold those corrupt accountable? Did she ever look for the 13,917 flood control projects during her father’s time [as President]?”
As the mudslinging intensifies, the real victims, many Filipinos argue, are the citizens themselves. The spectacle of political self-cannibalism has left the public disillusioned and angry, especially as the country grapples with a sluggish economy and persistent corruption. “If the President cannot secure the loyalty of his own blood, how can he secure the stability of a coalition, more so of the country he is elected to lead?” asked one columnist in Rappler, capturing the mood of a nation weary of dynastic infighting.
The stakes could not be higher. With the next presidential election looming in 2028 and Marcos Jr. constitutionally barred from seeking reelection, both the Marcos and Duterte camps are jockeying for position. Duterte-Carpio, currently the preferred successor in national polls, is using the moment to bolster her credentials. Meanwhile, President Marcos Jr. has vowed that powerful politicians involved in the corruption scandal will be jailed by Christmas—an implicit threat that may extend to his rivals as well as his own allies.
Yet, as observers point out, the outcome of this feud is far from certain. “Let’s not underestimate Marcos Jr.,” Arugay cautioned. “Because he’s still President, and he has the tools.” But with each new public accusation, each family betrayal, and each volley from the Dutertes, the myth of Marcos unity is further eroded. The Philippines, it seems, is witnessing not just a political crisis but a historic unraveling of one of its most enduring—and divisive—dynasties.
For now, the daily spectacle continues, a reminder that in the Philippines, the violent current of power can indeed drown even the strongest blood ties. And as the Marcoses and Dutertes trade blows, ordinary Filipinos are left to wonder who, if anyone, is truly looking out for their interests.
