Philippines' Marcos says open to reconciling with Dutertes

19/5/2025 19:06

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said he was open to reconciling with the Duterte family, one week after allies of his estranged Vice President, Sara Duterte, outperformed expectations in a fiercely contested and pivotal Senate race.



In a podcast shared on his Facebook page on Monday, Marcos said he needed friends rather than enemies as he seeks to use the remaining three years of his term to deliver on his agenda.



Philippine presidents are limited to a single six-year term.



"Yes," Marcos said when asked if he would be open to mending fences, after a bitter and very public falling-out between Marcos and the Duterte camps, which has fractured the once-powerful alliance that swept both to victory in 2022.



"As much as possible, what I am after is stability... so that we can do our jobs. That is why I am always open to things like that," he told the podcast.



Duterte's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Marcos' remarks.