Then-President Rodrigo Duterte interacts with President-elect Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. and son, Ilocos Norte Representative-elect Sandro Marcos, during the inauguration of Vice President-elect Sara Duterte in Davao City on June 19, 2022. Joey Dalumpines, Presidential Photo/File

WASHINGTON DC — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday said that he “does not consider” former President Rodrigo Duterte as his “political enemy”, even after his predecessor slammed him repeatedly for revitalizing the country’s ties with the United States, and for suspending a local politician from Davao.

Duterte earlier lashed out at Marcos Jr. for suspending Davao del Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib for 2 months over complaints of abuse of power.

“That’s his view. I don’t consider him a political enemy,” Marcos Jr. told reporters when asked to react to his predecessor’s statements.

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 “It takes two to tango,” he said.

Earlier this year, Duterte accused Marcos Jr. of using illegal drugs, but the President brushed off the allegation, saying that the former President might be high on fentanyl, a prescriptive drug that may be addictive.

Duterte reportedly began verbally assaulting Marcos Jr. after reports that the current administration allowed the entry of foreign investigators who are probing possible human rights violations during the previous administration’s war on drugs.

Despite the recent spats between the former and incumbent presidents, Marcos Jr. said that he is still on good terms with the Davaoeño leader’s daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte.

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