Key rift is growing threat to stability in Philippines

Significance Furthermore, former President Duterte threatened the secession of the southern Mindanao island, the Duterte family’s political stronghold, if Marcos proceeds with plans to amend the constitution. The partnership between Marcos and Sara Duterte has long been under strain. Separately, rumours of coup plotting within the military persist. Impacts Rising anti-China public opinion, linked to Chinese maritime aggression, could worsen relations between Manila and Beijing. The Philippines will likely allocate greater funding for defence and maritime security. Any surge in annual consumer price inflation, which eased for a fourth straight month in January, would raise the risk of social unrest.