Alignments in Marcos, Duterte camps becoming clear in Senate, says Drilon

MANILA, Philippines — Former Senate President Franklin Drilon admitted believing the Senate is being used as a “proxy war” between the Marcoses and the Dutertes for the upcoming elections.

In a televised interview on Wednesday, Drilon was asked if he sees the current Senate investigations and the chamber itself being used as a proxy war between the two camps.

“Yes. The political observers will agree. Yes, it is clear that political forces are aligned… are starting to get very clear alignments within the Marcoses and the Dutertes,” said Drilon over ANC.

The former senator cited three events that gripped the Senate, which, according to him, “could have cumulative effects”:

• The controversial people’s initiative,
• The issuance of a warrant of arrest against Duterte’s ally Apollo Quiboloy and
• The allegedly leaked documents linking President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to illegal drug use.

“I emphasize [that] I do not know for a fact that these [are], indeed, affected, but I am just citing the circumstances,” said Drilon.

READ: Marcos shoots back: Ex-president Duterte takes fentanyl

President Marcos and former President Rodrigo Duterte earlier exchanged barbs over several issues, including Duterte’s supposed “pact” with China and Marcos’ alleged “drug use.”