Marcos to see Duterte ‘if he wants a meeting’

ON GOOD TERMS | President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. meets with his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte on Aug. 2, 2023, to talk about Duterte’s visit to Chinese President Xi Jinping about two weeks earlier. (MALACAÑANG PHOTO)

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Sunday said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is open to a meeting with his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte after the former president said on Saturday that he wanted to talk to Marcos regarding embattled network Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI).

“President Marcos is always available to President Duterte. The President will contact him now to ask if he wants a meeting,” Communications Secretary Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil told reporters in a message on Viber.

Duterte cohosted on SMNI “Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa” (From the Masses, for the Masses), one of two programs that the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board suspended on Dec. 18, in part due to Duterte’s earlier remarks against ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro, which prompted the lawmaker to sue the former president for grave threat.

The next day, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) ordered the network’s operations suspended, following a resolution by the House of Representatives recommending that action, citing SMNI’s alleged violations of the terms of its franchise.

‘I have not crucified him’

In his first press conference with Davao media on Saturday night, a recording of which was posted by some broadcasters online, Duterte said: “I do not want to control the president, but rather I’d like to talk to him directly why was it like that.”

“Also, as far as I’m concerned, I have not crucified him, not even criticized him severely—maybe [I had] commented on the direction the government is proceeding. That’s all,” he added.

Duterte also defended the network and its founder, Apollo Quiboloy.

“My only concern is to help my friend, the pastor because the NTC has not even come up with an allegation or a charge of any wrongdoing,” he said.

“Sonshine has always been careful, why is this happening?” Duterte said further.

“I’m just biding my time, one of these days, I will come up with a statement not necessarily defending Pastor Quiboloy, but just to say something about the way things are,” he also said.

Duterte explained that he was concerned about recent developments regarding SMNI because his weekly show was also affected.

“I’ll just refer to my show because that’s what is important to me,” he said, adding that the suspension of his program did not follow “the right procedure.”

‘Retired and poor’

Duterte also took the occasion to deny that there was ever a “secret meeting” with military and police officials in Davao City, amid reports of a destabilization plot against Mr. Marcos.

“Who would believe me? What police or military officers are crazy enough to meet with me?” he said when asked in his news conference about the alleged meeting.

“They must be crazy. I’m already retired and poor,” he said, adding that people spreading rumors about a destabilization plot involving him must be insecure.

“It’s their insecurity, maybe, it’s all in their mind,” the former president said.

In November last year, Duterte said in his program that he remembered “talking to some retired generals,” but emphasized to them that as long as there is “no serious issue of corruption,” the government would not be brought down by the people if their money is not being misspent.

He also wondered “how I was dragged into this” talk of destabilization.

‘Marcos is quite careful’

On the recent controversy over the confidential funds sought by Vice President Sara Duterte, her father said, “I cannot be an active participant in politics. It’s all politics. She has to be on her own.”

Duterte said he spends most of his time at home reading and playing with his grandchildren. He would leave the house from time to time but only to places far away from the crowd, he said.

Asked about the performance of the administration, he said he did not see any major errors, abuses, or corruption.

“Marcos is quite careful. I really do not know anything. I’m outside Malacañang. I don’t have any contacts anymore since I retired. I do not bother to ask questions so what I see is what I get,” the former leader said.

Political watchers have observed a cooling of relations between the Marcos and Duterte camps, even as both leaders still appear to be on good terms, compared with their predecessors.

In July last year, Marcos even defended Duterte’s sudden appearance with President Xi Jinping in China that month, saying that Duterte did not need his permission.

Duterte met with Marcos the following month to discuss that meeting with the Chinese leader, as the Palace confirmed, without disclosing any further details.

—WITH A REPORT FROM MARIELLE MEDINA