MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday said that he has lifelong friends in Davao City, following the Duterte clan’s verbal tirade against him.
Marcos said this while addressing land reform beneficiaries in the Dutertes’ bailiwick, where he led the distribution of over 2,500 land titles to farmers.
“I am happy to be able to revisit Davao. I have many good memories given to me and my family by Davaoeños in the past. I have many lifelong friends here,” Marcos said in Filipino in his speech.
READ: Marcos ‘resign’ – Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte
In January, Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte called for the president’s resignation if he did not love the country, while former President Rodrigo Duterte accused his successor of using illegal drugs.
READ: ‘It’s the fentanyl,’ Marcos says after former president Duterte tags him ‘drug addict’
Marcos had three public events in Davao on Wednesday, including the inauguration of the Davao City Bulk Water Supply Project, the distribution of Land Electronic Titles, and the signing of works contracts for the Davao Public Transport Modernization Project.
Vice President Sara Duterte joined the president for most of the day’s events despite her family’s verbal attacks against Marcos.
However, Sebastian Duterte was absent from all the events.
Reporters have asked the Palace if the Davao mayor was invited to the events, but it has yet to respond.