‍MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. marked his 69th birthday in India on Sunday while attending the BRICS Summit, as he brushed off Vice President Sara Duterte’s latest call for him to resign.

Marcos was in New Delhi from September 12 to 13 for the 18th BRICS Summit, where he represented the Association of Southeast Asian Nations as ASEAN chair.

His birthday coincided with continuing political tensions back home after Duterte called for his resignation during a gathering outside the Quezon City Hall of Justice on Friday.

Duterte accused Marcos of dishonesty, abuse and corruption and urged her supporters to continue calling for his removal from office.

Asked by reporters in India about the Vice President’s statements, Marcos said he did not have much of a response and described Duterte as angry over what was happening to her.

He said he appeared to have become the main target of that anger.

“What can I do? You cannot force anyone to love you,” Marcos said.

Duterte made the resignation call after her scheduled arraignment on grave threats charges was postponed following a motion filed by her camp.

The case stems from Duterte’s controversial remarks in 2024 involving Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and then-House Speaker Martin Romualdez. The remarks are also among the issues raised in the impeachment proceedings against the Vice President.

Marcos’ 69th birthday, meanwhile, was marked by government activities under the “Handog ng Pangulo” program, with financial assistance and public services scheduled for beneficiaries across 82 provinces.

Marcos has previously said his birthday aspirations center on improving the lives of Filipinos, particularly the poor, and pursuing programs aimed at ensuring that no Filipino goes hungry.

The President spent his birthday carrying out official engagements at the BRICS Summit before returning to the Philippines on Monday, September 14.

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