Former Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte’s attempt to secede his home region Mindanao from the rest of the nation has been met with threats of “authority and forces” from the current government. Duterte called for the region to secede last week, and local politicians said he could be charged with sedition.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr and Duterte have had recent disagreements over “efforts to amend the constitution,” The Guardian reports. The two had been in an alliance for two years, the AFP reports. The disagreement is over changes that Marcos supports making to the nation’s constitution in which Duterte opposes.
The changes would increase incentives for foreign investment, Marcos said, but Duterte has accused Marcos of “using constitutional change to stay in power.” Reports also indicate that Duterte fears an investigation into his “drug war,” during which thousands were killed.
Marcos’ National Security Advisor Eduardo Ano said that secession attempts would be “met by the government with resolute force.” Marcos is the son of notorious Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos who was a dictator. The current president engaged in a social media campaign to cover up his family’s controversial past.
“The national government will not hesitate to use its authority and forces to quell and stop any and all attempts to dismember the republic,” Ano said.
“Armed Forces of the Philippines chief General Romeo Brawner spent last weekend visiting military bases in Mindanao, urging troops to be loyal to ‘our duly constituted authorities’,” the AFP reports. “The visit came after a series of rumours reported in local media—denied by authorities—of a plot to remove Marcos from power.”
Duterte has accused Marcos of being a drug addict, while Duterte’s son called for Marcos to resign. This comes as the nation has been dealing with violence from rebel groups, including the largest of these, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
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