MANILA – Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s eldest son came to his father’s defence on Oct 22, saying Vice-President Sara Duterte “crossed the line” with her attacks as the feud between the nation’s biggest political clans escalates.

       Congressman Ferdinand Alexander Marcos said he cannot stay silent despite his father’s advice to refrain from making a statement while Ms Duterte “threatens to exhume a former president and behead an incumbent one”.

       The lawmaker said in a statement: “Besides, her bizarre temper tantrum has been condemned by a nation horrified from such displays of insensitivity towards the dead and cruelty to the living.”

       He also said his father has never said anything to rebuke Ms Duterte and warrant her “going ballistic.”

       The Marcos scion’s statement shows that the public spat between the two powerful families is not letting up, risking political instability in the South-east Asian nation ahead of the midterm elections in 2025.

       He was reacting to Ms Duterte’s remarks last week about how Mr Marcos “doesn’t know how to be a president” – her sharpest criticism yet against her 2022 election campaign partner.

       She also said during last week’s briefing that she would “dig up” the body of the Marcos patriarch and then “dump it” into the sea if attacks against her continued.

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       Ms Duterte said she had been a subject of attacks and lawmakers were trying to build a case to impeach her.

       Mr Marcos’ office said it would not respond to Ms Duterte’s remarks.

       But his son on Oct 22 said: “One must draw the line at some point, and it’s frankly long overdue.” BLOOMBERG