Are the Philippines’ Marcos and Duterte families set to ‘break up’ over South China Sea and other rows?

His decision was relayed by Presidential Communications Office Chief Secretary Cheloy Garafil to reporters via text message, in which Duterte-Carpio was listed as “chair” caretaker and “assisted” by presidential Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin and Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III.

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What’s behind the apparent feud between the Marcos, Duterte clans in the Philippines?

“We don’t know, it was a secret agreement. We don’t know anything about it. There is no documentation, no record.”

Barry Gutierrez, who was a spokesman of former vice-president Leni Robredo, said: “I think the break-up [between the Marcos and Duterte families] has already happened. What we’re witnessing now is simply the forced politeness. I expect this facade to crack and the angry screaming to start soon.”

Gutierrez told This Week in Asia that the two families’ relations have “almost completely eroded” as Marcos Jnr’s appointment of three caretakers in his absence was “a very public message that VP Sara does not enjoy the same level of trust she once did within the administration”.

Marcos Jnr did not need to be briefed on a matter that was publicly known to be the Duterte administration’s policy, Roque Jnr said. “He’s horrified about something he doesn’t know? He’s really funny.”

The former congressman argued the president was “deflecting [public opinion] away from issues” that have affected his popularity such as inflation but declined to comment about relations between the two clans.

Political veterans told This Week in Asia that the latest developments are further signs of the irreconcilable differences between the two families.

“I think there is, and has been, a real difference in foreign policy positioning between Marcos Jnr and Duterte,”