Marcos-Duterte war is a battle for the soul of Philippine democracy

Annual speech gives president chance to rally elite, pin down rival family

Avatar
20240719 Marcos and Duterte

Vice President Sara Duterte, left, resigned from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s cabinet last month and has made it clear she won't attend this year's State of the Nation Address. (Source photos by Reuters and Getty Images)

Richard Heydarian is a senior lecturer at the Asian Center of the University of the Philippines and author of "The Indo-Pacific: Trump, China and the New Struggle for Global Mastery."

On July 22, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will deliver his third State of the Nation Address (SONA), announcing his main policy priorities for the coming year. Arguably, this will be his most consequential address yet, setting the tone for next year's midterm elections and, crucially, his pending war against his former allies, the Duterte dynasty.

Sponsored Content

About Sponsored ContentThis content was commissioned by Nikkei's Global Business Bureau.