The dustup between the Philippines' top political families — the Marcos and Duterte clans — has entered the realm of major threat to the nation’s economy.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said on Friday that any impeachment complaint against his estranged vice president Sara Duterte would only distract Congress and not help people, in remarks that drew criticism from some lawmakers.

At a campaign rally in 2022, the two most popular politicians in the Philippines praised each other as they forged a formidable ticket in the presidential election.

A major political storm set off by a bitter feud between the Philippine president and the vice president is testing an Asian democracy that has long been troubled by rowdy politics, poor law enforcement and bareface impunity.