In the saga of “like father, like son,” Mayor Baste Duterte seems eager to uphold the family tradition of blunt-force governance.

Following in his father’s footsteps, he’s declared his own rendition of a ‘war on drugs,’ complete with a chorus of ominous threats echoing those of Rodrigo. With five suspects swiftly meeting their demise in a 24-hour period, it’s a script ripped straight from the Duterte playbook. 

The International Criminal Court, already eyeing Papa Duterte for potential crimes against humanity, must be contemplating a family package deal.

Amidst the bravado, however, lies a city shrouded in contradictions. Davao, the supposed bastion of drug eradication, now leads the charts in urban poverty under the junior Duterte’s reign. Could there be a link between the city’s current drug problem and its burgeoning poverty levels? Or perhaps it’s merely the sound of dissent being drowned out by the clamor of propaganda. 

In the saga of the D Dynasty, truth remains the ultimate casualty.