Baste Duterte to Marcos: ‘We will stand up, we will fight back’

A defiant Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte on Sunday criticized and cursed President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. after his father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, was sent to The Hague in The Netherlands to face charges of crimes against humanity.

In his speech during the 88th Araw ng Dabaw, the younger Duterte said he prayed that Marcos will be able to finish his term as chief executive, as they will “fight back” following the alleged “illegal” arrest of his father.

“I will take this opportunity to tell Mr. Marcos how I feel about him. Mr. President Marcos, you will never be loved, especially to us who are calling out Rody Duterte’s name. You will never be loved, Mr. Marcos,” Baste Duterte said. 

“We will stand up and we will fight back,” he added, drawing cheers from the crowd.

The mayor said that aside from the President “not being loved by the people,” all he has “is the government resources and [his] term.” 

“Beyond that, you are nothing!” he exclaimed 

GMA News Online sought a comment from Malacañang and will update this story once it responds. 

Authorities arrested the Duterte patriarch last Tuesday upon his arrival in Manila from Hong Kong. 

The 79-year-old ex-president was later brought to The Hague Penitentiary Institution or the Scheveningen Prison in the Netherlands to face the International Criminal Court (ICC). 

The former Philippine leader made his first appearance before the ICC on Friday, via video link from a detention center. 

The next hearing on the confirmation of his charges is scheduled for September 23, 2025.

Baste Duterte also criticized the entire Marcos family, equating the President’s family name with martial law and oppression. 

“It seems to me, the stories that I've heard about martial law and oppression is synonymous with the Marcos family name,” he said, as the crowd chanted “Marcos resign!” 

The mayor also cursed Marcos for allowing his father Rodrigo to be arrested even when the latter allowed the President’s late father, Ferdinand Marcos Sr., to be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in 2016. 

Marcos Sr. declared martial law in September 1972 and remained in office until the EDSA People Power Revolution forced him and his family to leave the country in February 1986. He died while in exile in Hawaii three years later.

The late strongman was laid to rest in clandestine rites at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in November 2016 during Rodrigo Duterte's presidency. 

This sparked protests from groups which opposed Marcos Sr.'s one-man rule that ended with his 1986 ouster.

Solidarity Walk

In a report by Rgil Relator on 24 Oras Weekend, thousands of people took part in a Solidarity Walk in a display of support for Rodrigo Duterte, who was the mayor of Davao City for several terms before he ascended the presidency in 2016.

Many came in black as a symbolic gesture for the Duterte family. They assembled at the city's San Pedro Square where their mayor expressed his gratitude and shared his sentiments over recent developments.

"Hindi na tayo magtaka, bakit ngayon dahil Rudy Duterte stood up for every, itong traditional politicians hindi nila gusto ng pagbabago sa bansang ito," the 37-year old Duterte told the assembly.

"Hindi nila gusto na mayroong Rudy Duterte diyan dahil mabulilyaso ang kanilang mga laro sa gobyerno," he added.

(Let's not wonder, why Rudy Duterte stood up for every, these traditional politicians do not want change for this country.

They do not want a Rudy Duterte present because he will foil their ploys within government.)

The Davao City Police estimated the event's participants at around 30,000. —RF, GMA Integrated News