In the latest twist in Philippine politics, a pair of recent developments have cast a spotlight on the complexities of political loyalties, public opinion, and family feuds at the highest levels of government. A nationwide survey has revealed surprising divisions among supporters of former President Rodrigo Duterte regarding the role of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in pursuing accountability for his controversial drug war. Meanwhile, a social media storm has erupted over a false claim that Senator Imee Marcos was ousted from her Senate seat by her own brother, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., amid a highly publicized family rift.
Between November 21 and 28, 2025, WR Numero surveyed 1,412 adult Filipinos across the country, delving into the public’s views on the ICC’s involvement in investigating alleged abuses during Duterte’s anti-drug campaign. The results, reported by Philstar.com, showed that a slim majority—51%—of Filipinos believe the ICC plays an important role in holding accountable those involved in Duterte’s drug war. Only 26% disagreed, while the remainder were unsure or declined to answer.
What’s striking is the diversity of opinion even within Duterte’s own base. Among self-identified pro-Duterte respondents, who made up roughly a third of the survey sample, 46.4% dismissed the ICC’s role and credibility. Yet, a significant 39% said the tribunal is important, and 14.6% remained unsure. This internal split challenges the notion of Duterte’s supporters as a monolithic bloc, especially when it comes to questions of international justice and accountability.
WR Numero President and CEO Cleve Arguelles emphasized the nuances within the Duterte coalition, telling Philstar.com, “They may be overwhelmingly aligned in their opposition to the Marcos administration, but their views on the ICC are more diverse than the political story assumes.” He further explained, “Duterte’s coalition has always been broad and quite plural—Mindanao identity voters, anti-elite voters, anxious middle class, and the conservative law and order constituency—and these groups don’t share the same instincts about international accountability.”
Arguelles noted that nearly 40% of Duterte supporters acknowledging the importance of the ICC demonstrates that political loyalty and a desire for justice can coexist, even among the most ardent backers. “It’s a reminder that public opinion, even among strong constituencies, is more textured and open than elite factional infighting makes it appear,” he added.
Support for the ICC’s role was strongest among respondents identifying with the opposition, with 68.2% in favor, followed by pro-Marcos respondents at 61.5%, and those with no clear political affiliation or who were unsure at 52%. Among the survey’s partisan categories, the largest group—39%—had no political affiliation, with Duterte supporters at 34%, pro-Marcos at 15%, and opposition-leaning at 12%. The survey had a ±3% national margin of error and a 95% confidence level, adding weight to its findings.
Despite the differences on the ICC, Duterte supporters showed greater unity on other issues. For instance, 63% favored deprioritizing the potential arrest of Senator Bato dela Rosa, a key Duterte ally, and 52% opposed Duterte’s continued stay under ICC custody. Distrust of the current administration was also pronounced: 73% of pro-Duterte respondents expressed skepticism about the Marcos administration’s ability to investigate alleged corruption in flood control projects and budget irregularities. In contrast, 74% of pro-Marcos respondents expressed trust in the administration to conduct such probes.
While these survey results were making waves, another controversy was brewing online. On November 30, 2025, a Facebook post claimed that Senator Imee Marcos had been removed from her Senate position after her brother, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., filed a case against her. The post, which quickly went viral with hundreds of reactions and comments, alleged, “Shocking news! Imee Marcos was removed from the Senate after PBBM filed a case against her; information about her removal from office has spread, and the political environment has become tense.” Similar claims soon appeared across other social media platforms, fueling rumors of a political crisis within the powerful Marcos family.
However, according to a Rappler fact-check, the claim is unequivocally false. Senator Imee Marcos remains a sitting senator as of December 5, 2025, with no pending case or adverse decision against her in the Senate. The President of the Philippines has no authority to remove or impeach Senate members; this power lies solely with the Senate itself, as outlined in Article VI, Section 16 of the 1987 Constitution. The Constitution states, “Each House may determine the rules of its proceedings, punish its Members for disorderly behavior, and, with the concurrence of two-thirds of all its Members, suspend or expel a Member. A penalty of suspension, when imposed, shall not exceed sixty days.”
Senator Marcos is expected to complete her current term, which ends on June 30, 2025, unless she resigns, passes away, is found guilty of grave misconduct, or is expelled by a two-thirds vote of her colleagues. None of these conditions currently apply, and the Senate has not taken any steps toward her removal.
The origins of the false claim appear to be rooted in the escalating political rift between Imee Marcos and her brother, which burst into public view after the ICC arrested former President Duterte on March 11, 2025, for alleged crimes against humanity tied to his drug war. Senator Marcos, who had aligned herself with the Duterte faction, withdrew from the President’s senatorial slate in protest over the administration’s handling of the ICC warrant. The family feud deepened on November 17, 2025, when Senator Marcos, speaking at an Iglesia ni Cristo rally, publicly accused President Marcos Jr. of drug use. She declared, “I can bear it if you fail and lose your position, but I cannot bear to lose you. Take care of yourself. Get treatment. Rid your system of drugs.”
President Marcos Jr. responded with concern for his sister’s health and well-being, telling the public on December 5, 2025, “For a while now, we’ve been very worried about my sister. When I say we, I’m talking about friends and family. And the reason that is — is because the lady you see talking on TV is not my sister…I hope she feels better soon.”
Despite the heated public exchanges and rampant online speculation, the facts remain clear: Senator Imee Marcos continues to serve in the Senate, and the political drama unfolding between her and her brother, while headline-grabbing, has not resulted in any official sanction or removal.
Taken together, these stories reveal a political landscape in the Philippines that is anything but simple. Public opinion is more nuanced than stereotypes suggest, and even the most powerful families are not immune to internal conflict and rumor. As the nation approaches the end of Senator Marcos’s term and continues to grapple with the legacy of Duterte’s drug war, the coming months promise even more twists in the ongoing saga of Philippine politics.