Old Photo of Marcos and Duterte Resurfaces After Arrest
PBBM and FPRRD – A photo of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. with former President Rodrigo Duterte from 2016 has resurfaced online following Duterte’s recent arrest.
In a June 11, 2016 Facebook post, Marcos Jr. shared the picture and expressed his gratitude to Duterte, calling him a true friend. “Salamat sa aking matalik na kaibigan na si Rody Duterte. Ito ang tunay na walang iwanan,” he wrote.
The post has since gained attention, with netizens reacting strongly. Many criticized Marcos Jr., accusing him of betrayal and questioning his sincerity. Some comments labeled him a “traitor” and “the most corrupt president ever.”
Despite the controversy, Marcos Jr. denied that Duterte’s arrest by the International Criminal Court (ICC) was politically motivated.
Marcos Jr. and Duterte’s daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, were once political allies during the 2022 elections under the UniTeam banner. However, their alliance fractured after Sara resigned from Lakas-CMD, citing “political toxicity” and “unethical power struggles.”
To recall, on March 7, 2025, Duterte traveled to Hong Kong with his long-time partner Honeylet Avanceña, his daughter Kitty, and several associates. His lawyer, Salvador Panelo, stated that the trip was for a political event organized by the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) in support of Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP), aimed at engaging overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). However, his departure coincided with reports that the ICC was preparing to issue a warrant against him.
On March 11, Duterte was arrested under a valid arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court. Following his arrest, he was transported to The Hague, Netherlands, where he is expected to stand trial for crimes against humanity.
Earlier, the plane carrying him landed at Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai at 8:03 AM on Wednesday, March 12, for a layover. After just over an hour in Dubai, Duterte continued his journey to Rotterdam Airport in The Hague.