MANILA - Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr. claimed Sunday that Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte has more trust in him over the latter's own running mate, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano.

During the #PiliPinas Debates at the University of Santo Tomas, Marcos said that if Duterte fails to wipe out criminality as president within six months, the mayor said he will hand over the presidency to him, and not Cayetano.

"Sinabi ni Mayor Digong, kapag hindi nalutas ang problema ng krimen in three to six months, ibibigay na raw niya ang pagka-Pangulo kay Bongbong. Hindi niya sinabing ibibigay niya kay Senator Alan," Marcos said.

Marcos said this may be because of the high crime figures in Taguig, Cayetano's own turf.

He also claimed that Duterte admires his version of the Basic Bangsamoro Law for Mindanao.

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Cayetano, however, countered that Duterte was only "being playful" when he said that he wants Marcos as his successor, in front of mayors in Ilocano province, a known Marcos stronghold.

"Pero ang sinabi po niya all over the country, 'Kapag hindi mo iboboto si Alan, wag mo akong iboboto," Cayetano stressed.

He also criticized Marcos for supposedly supporting various presidential candidates just to advance his own bid.

"Si Bongbong po, kapag nasa Cavite, Bongbong-Binay. Kapag nasa Ilocos, Binay o kaya Poe-Marcos. Kapag nasa Mindanao, Duterte-Bongbong," he said.

"Iyan po ang klase ng pamumulitika niya. Isasaksak niya ang mga presidente para siya ang maging presidente."

Marcos, however, said it is not his fault if allies of different presidential bets support him.

"Kasalanan ko po ba kung iyung mga ka-alyado nila ay mas gusto sa akin?" he said.

Cayetano and Marcos were about to extend their heated verbal battle when moderators cut for a commercial break.

Rumors earlier spread about a possible Duterte-Marcos tandem before the tough-talking mayor declared Cayetano as his running mate.