By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte seems to have found an unlikely “lawyer” in the head of a presidential interagency panel on human rights.
This surfaced on Wednesday as Undersecretary Severo Catura, executive director of the Presidential Human Rights Committee (PHRC), said the investigation of the International Criminal Court (ICC) into the drug war of the Duterte administration will not prosper.
“Hindi pwedeng mag-prosper kasi ang ganyang kaso unless na you ask that very important question na, wala ka bang justice system sa inyong bansa para maaksyunan ang lahat ng ito,” Catura said during a press briefing of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).
It was learned that the PHRC is mandated to advise the President on all human rights concerns and issues. The executive secretary serves as the committee chair, while the secretaries of Justice and Foreign Affairs are vice chairpersons.
Under Duterte’s drug war, at least 6,200 suspects were killed in police operations, according to government records.
But this was contradicted by human rights groups which claimed the actual death toll could be from 12,000 to 30,000.
(el Amigo/MNM)
By Junex Doronio
MANILA — It looks like the camp of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte is flexing its muscles for the 2025 midterm elections with no less than popular TV gameshow host Willie Revillame in the senatorial slate of the fledgling PDP-Laban-Duterte faction.
During the anti-charter change rally in Davao City last January 28, Revillame announced that he is now ready to run for senator in 2025 after he handed P2,000 each to his game contestants.
“Pinag-iisipan ko pong mabuti. Kung ano po ang magiging desisyon nyo, yun ang susundin ko. Palagay ko handa na ako,” Revillame said, addressing Duterte and to the applause of the crowd.
The popular TV personality disclosed that he was asked by Duterte to seek a Senate seat in the 2022 elections but begged off at that time, saying he was not yet ready then.
“Last March, two years ago, pinatawag po ako ni Sen. Bong Go, ng mahal na pangulo at ako ay kinausap nila sa Malakanyang. Yun po yung pinapatakbo niya ako bilang senator. During that time, meron po akong programa sa GMA yung Wowowin,” Revillame said.
He admitted that he politely declined Duterte’s invitation to join the latter’s senatorial slate for 2022 polls.
“Sabi ko mahal na pangulo, meron pa po akong kontrata at hindi ko pa po kaya. Paghanda na po ako pag iisipan ko,” Revillame further said.
With no more gameshow following the sudden stoppage of airing of programs of ALLTV network managed by All Media Broadcasting System (AMBS) owned by former Senate president and businessman Manny Villar, the “Wowowin” gameshow seemingly has no choice but to try his luck in politics if he can also win.
AMBS had its soft launch on Sept. 13, 2022 only to announce in February 2023 to temporarily stop airing some of its shows.
ALLTV’s station-produced shows include Revillame’s game show “Wowowin,” Toni Gonzaga’s eponymous talk show “Toni” and the morning show “M.O.M” (Mommies On a Mission) hosted by Mariel Rodriguez, Ruffa Gutierrez and Ciara Sotto.
The shows were on air for only five months.
Revillame has reportedly resigned “out of bitterness” from ALLTV Channel 2, just 14 months after leaving the leading GMA Network.
(el Amigo/MNM)
By Junex Doronio
MANILA — In an unexpected political twist, Vice President Sara Duterte has announced that she will run for an elective post in 2025 fueling speculations that she may run for senator and wrest the Senate presidency while former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte will return to his old post as Davao City mayor.
This developed as her siblings Davao City’s 1st district Representative Paolo “Pulong” Zimmerman Duterte and Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte declared that they won’t run for any position in the 2025 midterm elections.
“Narinig ko na ang aking kapatid na sina Mayor Baste at Congressman Pulong, na nagsabi na hindi na tatakbo sa susunod na eleksyon. Kaya narito ako ngayon para mangampanya sa inyo dahil tatakbo ako sa susunod na eleksyon,” Inday Sara revealed in a recent gathering in Davao City.
However, she stopped short in baring what elective position she is aiming for in 2025.
Political pundits told Maharlika NuMedia that Inday Sara could be gunning for a Senate seat and then will maneuver to become Senate President in preparation for the Senate becoming an impeachment court in the event of an impeachment case against President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Romualdez Marcos Jr.
If Marcos Jr is convicted and then there’s no more Vice President, Inday Sara as Senate President will take over as acting President by way of succession.
On the other hand, FPRRD may opt to run for Davao City mayor which it could serve as his fortress and he will be untouchable by the International Criminal Court (ICC) even if convicted of his “crimes against humanity” due to the 30,000 victims of extra-judicial killings (EJKs) in the course of the campaign against illegal drugs during his six-year presidency.
(el Amigo/MNM)
By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Saying that the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People’s Army (CPP-NPA is collectively a “spent force”, former Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson has rejected ceasefire with the Maoist rebels this Christmas.
On Friday (Dec 22), Lacson said in a statement that the government should not lose steam by giving the Maoists an opportunity to recoup their losses.
“The CPP/NPA is almost a spent force – thanks to the efforts of former President Rodrigo Duterte and the security forces during his term as president,” Lacson noted.
Earlier, Vice President Sara Duterte thumbed down any form of peace talks with the CPP-NPA.
She once again described the recent agreement between the Marcos Jr. administration and communist groups as an “agreement with the devil.”
For his part, Lacson — who once served as Philippine National Police (PNP) chief — said the government should instead pound hard on the communists whose agenda is to overthrow the state.
“We should not squander those gains by giving them – already designated as a terrorist group – another breathing space to regroup and reconsolidate their strength to fight and overthrow the duly constituted authority which is their ONLY agenda in the first place,” Lacson stressed.
However, he said the Maoist rebels should still be allowed to surrender “peacefully and unconditionally” if they decide to give up their armed struggle.
The CPP, founded by the late Jose Ma. Sison 55 years ago, has been waging their “protracted people’s war” copied from the revolutionary playbook of Mao Zedong in China.
(IAmigo/MNM)
By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Three ranking members of the PDP-Laban faction of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and one from former Senate President Manny Villar’s Nacionalista Party (NP) have defected to the ruling Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) headed by Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez.
On Tuesday, November 21, Romualdez administered the oath to Representatives Rosemarie Conejos Panotes (Camarines Norte, 2nd District), Dale B. Corvera (Agusan del Norte, 2nd District), Lordan G. Suan (Cagayan de Oro, 1st District), and Mary Mitzi Cajayon-Uy (Caloocan, 2nd District) as new Lakas-CMD members at the Social Hall of the Office of the Speaker at the Batasan Complex in Quezon City.
Panotes, Corvera, Cajayon-Uy, and Mayor Robes were former members of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino – Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) while Suan was from the Nacionalista Party (NP).
Witnessing the event were Majority Leader Manuel Jose ‘Mannix’ Dalipe and Lakas-CMD Secretary General Rep. Jose “Joboy” Aquino 2nd (Agusan del Norte, 1st District).
Seemingly unaffected by the “snubbing” of Vice President Sara Duterte, the Speaker warmly welcomed the new members of Lakas-CMD.
“Our heartfelt welcome to our new members. We are delighted and excited to have you on board. With your exceptional skills, experience, and dedication, we look forward to the unique contributions and perspectives you will bring to Lakas-CMD to help the Marcos administration champion people’s interests,” the Leyte representative said.
He added: “Your commitment to serving the Filipino people will play a major role in the continued success of Lakas-CMD and positively impact our constituents nationwide. We will support and take care of you, and please do not hesitate to reach out to the party leadership.”
On Monday evening, VP Duterte was caught in a video walking past Romualdez at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City to shake the hands of an official who was part of the Philippine delegation, along with the Speaker.
The Vice President welcomed the Philippine delegation that joined President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for his three-leg trip to the United States last week.
“Oh, Hindi ko nakita… Hindi ko nakita yung nasa social media. Di ako maka comment… Wala ako nakita,” VP Duterte quipped in Ian Cruz’s report on “24 Oras” on Tuesday when asked about the supposed snubbing incident.
(ai/mnm)
By Liezelle Soriano
MANILA — Ex-President Rodrigo Duterte has revealed his intention to run for either vice president or senator if his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio, faces impeachment.
This statement comes in response to circulating rumors of Duterte-Carpio’s alleged impeachment, which was later denied by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
“Alam ninyo ba kapag ginawa ninyo ‘yan, babalik ako sa pulitika… Mapilitan ako—it’s either I run for senator or I will run for vice president maski matanda na ‘ko,” Duterte stated.
“Mapipilitan akong lumabas sa retirement eh. When I begin to talk…election is just around the corner, talagang magka-babuyan tayo. I do not lose anything, I’m retired. Pero pagdating niyan na buhay pa ‘ko, ‘pag wala pa akong dementia, tatakbo akong…vice president… Kung si Inday ang presidente, okay lang,” he added.
In response, Duterte-Carpio expressed her support for her father’s political plans.
“Kung anuman ang desisyon ni Pangulong Duterte ay buo ang suporta ng pamilya sa kanya. Just like kung anuman ‘yung mga desisyon namin na mga anak regarding sa pulitika, buo din ang suporta ng pamilya sa amin, ganon din ang suporta namin sa desisyon ni Pangulong Duterte,” she said.
(ai/mnm)
By Liezelle Soriano
House Deputy Minority Leader France Castro said former president Rodrigo Duterte should not be “dramatic” on his response after the lawmaker filed a grave threat complaint against him.
“Huwag siyang nagdadrama na magpapakulong siya. Abogado siya, alam niya ang proseso ng batas kaya pumaloob siya sa proseso ng batas. That is rule of law,” Castro said.
Earlier this week, the Quezon City Prosecutors’ Office served Duterte with a subpoena demanding that he respond to Castro’s complaints filed on December 4 and 11.
The complaint of Castro stemmed from Duterte’s statement made on national television, labeling her as communist and threatened the party-list lawmaker to “kill her.”
“He can send his counsel, but if he does not appear personally, I would say it is a form of disrespect to the prosecutor,” Castro said.
“Bagama’t mabagal ang ating justice system, antayin niya ang proseso ng batas. Huwag niyang pangunahan ang batas,” she added.
(ai/mnm)
By Junex Doronio
SAYING HE WOULD RATHER GO TO JAIL than submit his counter affidavit on grave threat complaint, former President Rodrigo Duterte has tagged again complainant ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro of having communist links.
The feisty former president made the statement a day after the Office of the City Prosecutor of QC issued a subpoena to Duterte, ordering him to personally submit his answer to the death threats complaint filed against him by Castro.
“Si France, party-list ‘yan, Act. They are the Left who are the members of the Communist Party of the Philippines. They joined the mainstream…mga rebel ‘yan eh. Gusto nila sirain ang Pilipinas,” Duterte said in an SMNI interview on early Thursday, November 16.
He was responding to a query seeking his comment on the subpoena issued on Wednesday, November 15,
The one-page subpoena, issued by Senior Assistant City Prosecutor Ulric Badiola, ordered Duterte to submit his counter affidavit on December 4 and 11, both at 2:30 p.m.
Asked if he will comply with the subpoena, Duterte, himself a former prosecutor, said: “Magpakulong na lang ako. Gina-oppress ako ni France”.
He stressed: “Magpakulong ako, paglabas ko hanapin…Alam mo nakikinig lahat ng military, intelligence community. Akala mo happy yan sila?”
In October, Castro has accused Duterte of grave threat based on Duterte’s television interview in SMNI owned by Duterte’s friend Pastor Apollo Quibuloy wherein he said: “Kayong mga komunista ang gusto kong patayin (It’s you communists whom I want to kill)”.
Duterte went on: “Sabi ko sa kanya [his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte], magprangka ka na lang. Itong intelligence fund na ito gagamitin ko para sa utak ng mga Pilipino kasi ito ang target ko, kayong mga komunista andiyan sa Congress. Prangkahin mo na ‘yan si France Castro.”
Duterte made the remark as he vigorously defended the P650-million confidential funds requested by the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and P150 million to the Department of Education (DepEd) in the 2024national budget.
Both offices are headed by his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte.
Earlier, the House of Representatives led by Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez decided to realign the P1.23 billion confidential and Intelligence funds (CIF) under the proposed 2024 national budget to the agencies tasked to safeguard the country’s security and sovereignty.
Duterte explained that his daughter VP Sara intended to utilize the CIF for preparatory military training (PMT) program for high school students for the proposed reinstatement of the mandatory Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program in tertiary education.
VP Sara’s popularity rating in recent surveys notably plunged due to public uproar over the P125-million CIF that she allegedly spent in just 11 days in 2022.
(ai/mnm)
Ni Liza Soriano
SINABI ni Senador Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa nitong Martes na hindi pa sila nakakapag-usap ni dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte hinggil sa paglaya ni dating Senador Leila de Lima matapos ang halos pitong taong pagkakakulong.
“Wala po. Hindi pa kami nag-usap tungkol diyan,” ayon kay Dela Rosa, na hepe ng Philippine National Police (PNP) nang arestuhin at ikulong ang dating senadora.
Itinakda ng isang korte sa Muntinlupa ang P300,000 piyansa para sa pansamantalang paglaya ni De Lima.
Si De Lima, na isang vocal critic ni Duterte sa kanyang termino, ay nakalaya mula sa PNP Custodial Center sa Camp Crame, Quezon City noong Lunes ng gabi matapos magpiyansa.
Pinayagan ng Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 206 ang kanyang motion for reconsideration sa kanyang petisyon na makapagpiyansa sa kanyang natitirang kaso sa droga.
Si De Lima at ang kanyang mga kapwa akusado na sina dating Corrections Director Franklin Bucayu, driver na si Ronnie Dayan, Joenel Sanchez, at Jad Dera ay pinayagan ding makapagpiyansa ng P300,000 bawat isa.
(ai/mnm)
By Vergel Labesig
THE ALLIANCE of Concerned Teachers condemned former President Rodrigo Duterte’s statement urging his daughter Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte to confront ACT Teachers Party-list Representative France Castro on her statement on the use of intelligence funds.
ACT Chairperson Vladimer Quetua said Duterte’s rhetoric is a reaffirmation of his fascist character, which his daughter has perpetuated since taking office, thereby undermining the rule of law and the democratic rights of citizens.
“Evidently, this reaction is tied to the House of Representatives’ decision to remove confidential funds from civilian agencies, including the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education, both of which are headed by Vice President and DepEd Secretary Sara Duterte as a result of widespread criticism and opposition from the Makabayan bloc, other legislators, and the public during the recent budget deliberations,” Quetua said.
ACT said that the real threat to peace and security are “fascists and bloodthirsty tyrants” like Duterte.
“Malinaw na direktang banta ito sa buhay ni Rep. France Castro at ng mga progresibong grupo at indibidwal na naggigiit at ipinaglalaban lamang ang lehitimong panawagan at karapatan ng mga mamamayan,” Quetua said.
“Malinaw rin na ginamit at gagamitin ng estado ang confidential at intelligence funds na isiniksik at ipinipilit ng iba’t ibang ahensya sa kani-kanilang mga pondo para sa pandarahas, panunupil, at pagpaslang ng mga karaniwang Pilipino,” he added.
ACT called on the international community, the International Criminal Court, human rights organizations, and all advocates of democracy and justice to join them in denouncing state-perpetrated violence.
By Liezelle Soriano
FORMER President Rodrigo Duterte disclosed that Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio planned to use the proposed confidential and intelligence funds of the Department of Education for the implementation of mandatory Reserve Officers’ Training Corps.
The former leader said that he learned of his daughter’s plan when he scrutinized documents in relation to CIF.
“Binasa ko ang rationale. Ang plano niya — unahan ko na lang, so I’m sorry I have to divulge this because ibinigay mo naman sa’kin, then I just make it public — gamitin niya ang pera, it’s only P125 million, gamitin niya sa mga PMT, palakasin niya sa high school, pati ibalik talaga niya ang ROTC. Make it compulsory,” he said in an interview with SMNI.
The Office of the Vice President sought P500 million in confidential fund for 2024 while the Department of Education which Duterte-Carpio heads requested for P150 million.
However, the House of Representatives removed the confidential funds of the OVP, DepEd, Department of Agriculture, Department of Information and Communications Technology and Department of Foreign Affairs and realigned the budget to agencies tasked to secure the country’s security.