The gloves-off feuding between the two powerful political dynasties threatens to destabilise the Philippines, change the US-China geopolitical chessboard in the South China Sea and upend regional politics.
The Ferdinand Marcos Jnr administration wants to hold fast to the rule of law on the South China Sea but ignore probes into the country’s war on drugs. Cherry-picking compliance with international law damages the country’s reputation and undermines its standing with easy accusations of double standards.
Surrendering Rodrigo Duterte and others to a full-blown investigation would risk political stability when the president is trying to promote the Philippines globally. However, dodging international law and adding to the culture of impunity would damage the global credibility of both Marcos and his government.