MAYOR Sebastian “Baste” Duterte warned of a “clear downward trajectory” in the country and publicly accusing the United States and other foreign powers of deeply meddling in Philippine affairs.
In a lengthy social media post on Saturday, Nov. 29, Duterte expressed concern over what he described as a resurgence of the illegal drug trade, uneven application of the law, and the alleged manipulation of the country’s political landscape by international actors.
Duterte identified a key “turning point” years ago when foreign diplomats, particularly those from the US and other Western countries, publicly welcomed the release of high-profile figures previously linked to the drug crisis.
He argued that since then, the national environment has regressed:
“The environment appears to have shifted back toward one where illegal drugs are again pervasive, predatory actors move with relative confidence, and the practical risk of accountability feels low for those with power or connections.”
He lamented that hard-earned taxes appear to be “looted” while society continues to “absorb it, normalize it, and move on.”
The mayor also defended the controversial war on drugs pushed by his father, former President Rodrigo Duterte.
“It is notable that an individual like former President Rodrigo Duterte, who fought relentlessly against drugs and criminality, is now treated primarily as a villain rather than as someone responding to a real and lethal problem.”
He questioned why being “at war” with drugs is now framed as a “detrimental stance for society, while tolerance of the trade and its beneficiaries is quietly normalized.”
Accusations of foreign meddling
Duterte also accused the United States of weaponizing institutions, like the International Criminal Court (ICC), “to suppress resistance to neocolonial dynamics” while advancing their own strategic interests.
“These same foreign powers pointedly remain outside the ICC, and precisely by doing so, preserve the freedom to intervene in the affairs of other countries while shielding themselves from scrutiny over their own actions.”
Duterte asserted that the Marcos Jr. administration has allowed foreign countries to “meddle so deeply in our affairs,” causing the country to drift back to a state where a “stark wealth gap” persists.
He claimed that the system is designed to “preserve the comfort of a narrow elite, manage and exploit the lower classes, and shield certain actors from real consequences,” leaving citizens exposed and crime undeterred.
Malacañang have yet to issue a statement on Duterte’s social media post.
