By Vergel Labesig
VICE President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte called for collective action to address the low scores of Filipino students in the latest Programme for International Student Assessment.
The 2022 PISA results showed that the average scores of Filipino students in reading, mathematics and science have not improved significantly compared to other countries.
The report stated that mean scores showed that Filipino students aged 15 years old garnered only 356 points in science, 347 in reading, and 355 in mathematics.
The mean score for math among Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries was 472 points for mathematics, 476 in reading and, 485 in science.
Duterte termed the results as “uncomfortable truths” that should prod all stakeholders in the education sector to work hard to address the findings.
“This is a call to action, a call to our collective responsibility as a nation. We need every stakeholder to join us in this journey moving forward. We may approach the solution differently, but we all agree on the destination,” Duterte said.
“Everyone’s efforts are counted and everyone is accountable for our children’s future,” she added.
Despite the negative mark, Duterte said the DepEd under her watch is making progress in addressing learning issues among Filipino students to further improve the quality of basic education in the country.
She pointed to the Marcos administration’s effort to overhaul the K to 10 program under the aegis of its “Matatag Curriculum.”
“I call on everyone to pull our efforts together for a more resilient Matatag education system, an education system that aims to improve learning outcomes, prioritize student and teacher well-being, and promote accountability to close remaining disparities,” the DepEd chief said.
The Matatag curriculum is currently being pilot-tested in 35 schools in seven regions of the country.
Among the revisions in the K to 10 program include reducing the number of competencies and greater emphasis on the development of foundational skills such as literacy, numeracy, and socio-emotional skills for Kinder to Grade 3 learners.
The current curriculum has seven competencies namely Mother Tongue, Filipino, English, Mathematics, Araling Panlipunan, MAPEH, and Edukasyon sa Pagpapakatao.
However, under the Matatag curriculum, there will be five competencies namely Language, Reading and Literacy, Mathematics, Makabansa, and Good Manners and Right Conduct.
Duterte also pointed to the “catch-up” day in schools to allow students to have time to read different books of their interest.
The “catch-up” day will be implemented every Friday starting on January 12, 2024.
During the catch-up Fridays, students from kindergarten to Grade 12 shall devote time to reading books and other reading materials based on their interests.
They will be later tasked by their teachers to write essays, analyses, and reviews of the books and other materials they have read.
Aside from these measures, Duterte also pointed to the role of teacher training institutions in educating teachers.
“Our schools and communities can contribute to creating a safe, inclusive, supportive, and connected school climate. We must act to bring back our school-aged children and prevent long-term absenteeism, protecting them from exploitation due to their socioeconomic conditions,” Duterte further said.
DepEd Undersecretary Gina Gonong for her part said she is confident the scores of Filipino students in the next Pisa assessment will improve due to the reform measures being implemented by DepEd.
“We’re hoping na slowly but surely magiging statistically significant yung increase ng scores natin,” Gonong said.
“But we need to work harder para naman magkaroon tayo ng improvement in terms of levels,” she added.
Gonong also put a positive spin on the latest Pisa results saying there was an increase in scores for Filipino students.
“Merong increase ng scores although sinasabi natin na hindi statistically significant pero good news na yun kasi di tayo bumaba nag increase ng scores in math and reading. Ang science ang bumaba ng one point but again statistically insignificant,” she added.
Gonong also said some Filipino students were able to achieve the minimum proficiency.
“There is 16 percent in mathematics, 24 percent in reading, 23 percent in science. But we have to work on the more than 75 percent of our students who are below the minimum level of proficiency in mathematics, science, and reading,” he added.
DepEd NCR Director Wilfredo Cabral also said they are looking into policy directions that will ensure the well-being of teachers
“We are starting to remove non-teacher tasks being assigned to them,” Cabral added.
By Junex Doronio
MANILA — For publicly countering a major decision of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to resume peace talks with communist rebels in his bid to end the 55-year-old Maoist insurgency, Vice President Sara Duterte must resign as secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd).
This was the dare of former Senator Leila de Lima Tuesday (05 December 2023) after VP and Education Secretary Duterte assailed the move of the President to resume the peace talks and even called it “an agreement with the devil.”
“She (VP Duterte) should resign as DepEd Sec if she keeps on publicly opposing BBM’s Cabinet policy decisions that have nothing to do with DepEd,” De Lima posted in X, formerly Twitter.
The former senator added: “She cannot eat cake and keep it too.”
De Lima noted that peace talks is “not within the core competence” of the Vice President as concurrent DepEd secretary.
“The problem with VP Sara’s statement against the peace talks is this — She is still member of Cabinet,” De Lima said.
(ai/mnm)
By Junex Doronio
MANILA — The Supreme Court on Monday asked Vice President Sara Duterte to comment on a petition for certiorari with regards to the P125 million confidential funds spent by the Office of the Vice President (OVP) in just 11 days in 2022.
On Monday, the court released a notice dated Nov. 14, 2023, requiring VP Duterte, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, and Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman to “comment within 10 days from notice hereof.”
To recall, the controversy of the P125-million confidential funds which was spent in just 11 days in 2022 as exposed by pro-administration ally, Marikina City Representative Stella Quimbo caused public uproar and is even believed to have caused the sudden drop of Inday Sara’s popularity in recent surveys.
“Tandaan ninyo—kung sino man ang kumokontra sa confidential funds ay kumokontra sa kapayapaan. Kung sino ang kumokontra sa kapayapaan ay kalaban ng bayan,” VP Duterte declared last October 5.
But last November 7, petitioners led by lawyers Christian Monsod, Katrina Monsod, Barry Gutierrez, and RP Santiago said the transfer of funds from the Office of the President (OP) to the OVP as confidential funds and expenses was unconstitutional.
The High Tribunal was asked to order the OVP to return the P125 million confidential funds it spent in 2022 to the government’s treasury.
(ai/mnm)
By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Deviating from her usual tough persona, Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte has now shown her soft side as she spread holiday cheers to children during a recent visit to Tarlac province.
Inday Sara — as VP Duterte is fondly called — played Santa Claus for the day as she presented early holiday gifts to the kids as well as gleefully read a Christmas story for them.
“Nakakataba ng puso at masaya ako na makasama muli ang mga kabataan sa ibat-ibang komunidad sa Tarlac City noong Sabado sa pagdiriwing ng 16th Belenismo sa Tarlac, isang pagdiriwang na nagdadala ng pag-asa at inspirasyon,” VP Duterte wrote on Facebook.
The country’s second-highest official added that she opened up about her joyous experience of spending time with the children, saying Christmas is truly for the young ones.
“Ako ay inatasang maging story teller ng isang kwento na pinamagatang ‘Ang Kwento ng Candy Cane.’ Ang kwento ng candy cane ay isang pagpapaalala ng pagmamahal ni Kristo sa atin tuwing Kapaskuhan,” she said.
VP Duterte was in Tarlac to attend the launch of the festive Belenismo event last week.
(ai/mnm)
By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Following the tragic deaths of two students in Taguig City, Vice President, and Education Secretary Sara Duterte has vigorously pushed for the mental well-being of the youth especially in schools, saying it’s just as important as physical health.
Inday Sara — as the VPES is fondly called by her family, friends, and supporters — stressed on Thursday (30 Nov 2023) that mental health should never be neglected since it is an integral part of a person’s overall well-being.
“Importante at mahalaga ang kalusugan hindi lamang ng katawan kundi ng ating pag-iisip lalo na ng ating mga kabataan. Hindi madali at magiging madali ang buhay pero napakahalaga na meron tayong napag-sasabihan at merong nakikinig,” she said.
VP Duterte’s advocacy for mental health intensified after attending a government briefing on the tragic deaths of two students in Taguig City.
Last November 10, students Irish Sheen Manalo, 13, and Mary Nicole Picar, 15, were found dead at about 11 p.m. inside the Girls Scout Mini Office on the third floor of Magsaysay Building of Signal Village National High School (SVNHS) in Barangay Central Signal, Taguig.
The Southern Police District (SPD) forensic team said based on the autopsy, Manalo and Picar died of asphyxia by hanging. The two were also negative in pregnancy tests done.
VP Duterte noted that life can be challenging, but it’s important to know that help is available for mental health.
She encouraged young people not to hesitate in seeking help for their mental wellness.
The VPES added that help is just a call away.
She said the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) under the Department of Health has Crisis Hotline Numbers available 24/7:
1553 (Nationwide landline toll-free)
1800-1888-1553
Globe/TM
0966-351-4518
0917-899-8727
Smart/ TNT
0908-639-2672
“Huwag matakot humingi ng tulong,” the VPES further said.
(ai/mnm)
By Junex Doronio
MANILA — With the widening rift between the camps of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte, opposition Liberal Party (LP) president and Albay Representative Edcel Lagman has expressed hope that eventually the President will allow the investigation of the International Criminal Court (ICC) on the “bloody” war on drugs of the previous administration of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.
Conflicting reports said government data shows that at least 6,252 people were killed in police anti-drug operations from July 1, 2016, to May 31, 2022 while human rights groups estimate to be between 27,000 and 30,000.
“Palagay ko naman ang ating Pangulo ay titignan yung sentiment ng Kongreso, ng House of Representatives at sa mundo naman wala namang na-close, pwede ma-open. Yung mga Executive agencies ay pwedeng magpalit ng isip kung talagang nakikita nila na tama talaga na mag-cooperate ang ating bansa sa imbestigasyon ng ICC,” Lagman told reporters on Wednesday, November 22.
In July 17, 2023 report of the Vera Files, aside from FPRRD, Vice President Sara Duterte and Senators Bong Go and Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa were named in documents submitted to the ICC.
On Tuesday, November 21, the Albay solon filed the third resolution at the House of Representatives urging relevant agencies to work with the ICC Prosecutor on the probe.
Noticeably, Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla has softened his stance on the ICC when way back in July he said the international body “is not welcome here and has no business to be in the country.”
“[It] needs a serious study on our part, at the DOJ, considering we are no longer members,” Remulla declared.
With this development, Lagman expressed his belief that there has been a shift in the perspective of the majority bloc in the House.
“Kami naman e talagang matagal na naming hinihiling yun na mag-cooperate na. Palagay ko may mga pagpapalit sa mga pananaw ng majority na talagang kailangan na sundin natin ang rule of law at yung world order, kailangan mag-cooperate fully ang ating bansa sa imbestigasyon ng prosecutors ng ICC. Uulitin ko, we shouldn’t be a renegade in the international order,” he said.
Some political observers told Maharlika NuMedia that the entry of ICC early next year is possible with the obvious cracks in the UniTeam.
On Monday evening, November 20, VP Duterte was caught in video “snubbing” Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez who arrived at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City with the Philippine delegation of the President from the US.
(ai/mnm)
By Junex Doronio
SAYING THAT PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is “very concerned” about the effects of the earthquake, Vice President Sara Duterte has visited the wake and remains of those who died due to the magnitude 7.2 tremor that hit Davao Occidental last Friday.
On Monday, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said the death toll due to the magnitude 6.8 earthquake in Mindanao went up to nine.
Eight of the reported fatalities were in Soccsksargen and one was in the Davao Region.
“Malalim ang kalungkutan na nadarama natin sa pagkawala ng mga buhay at sa lahat ng pinsalang dala ng nangyaring lindol. Ipinapaabot ko ang aking taos-pusong pakikiramay, at namigay rin tayo ng tulong pinansyal sa lahat ng mga pamilyang kasalukuyang humaharap sa mga hamong dala ng disaster,” VP Sara said in a statement on Sunday, November 19.
She serves as the country’s caretaker while the President is in the United States.
VP Sara added that Marcos Jr. has also expressed his appreciation for the quick response of all concerned government agencies.
In her separate social media posts, the Vice President claimed that she visited the bodies of six individuals in Sarangani and General Santos City.
She went to the Ladera Funeral Homes in the municipality of Glan to see the remains of a mother and child who died when a landslide hit their home in Barangay Mudan.
VP Sara also visited the remains of another victim who died after getting hit by a post in Glan, as well as the wake of three more fatalities at the Villa Funeral Homes in General Santos City.
Impeachment plans
Meanwhile, the President said VP Sara “does not deserve to be impeached” amid rumors of impeachment plans by some lawmakers.
This developed after VP Sara said she’s not interested in running for president in 2028.
“It was not my ambition to run as vice president, let alone president. You all know that I already said I have no plans to run as president,” she told reporters in an ambush interview on Sunday.
On Thursday, November 16, ACT Teachers party-list Representative France Castro, who sued former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte for an alleged death threat, disclosed there are “supposed impeachment talks” in the House of Representatives against Vice President Sara Duterte.
(ai/mnm)
By Junex Doronio
BELIEVE IT OR NOT Vice President Sara Duterte on Sunday said she had no desire to run for the presidency in the 2028 national elections.
Veering away from her usual combative mood, VP Duterte sounded a bit spiritual when she added that her plans for the future would be up to God.
“Lahat ng ginagawa natin [everything we do], we can only plan, but it will truly be God’s plan that will prevail,” she said.
This developed as reports of the UniTeam breaking up made big news.
“We’re okay,” Duterte said when asked in an interview with GMA News’ Jonathan Andal about her relationship with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
Meanwhile, House Speaker Martin Romualdez said there was “nothing in the offing” regarding the supposed impeachment talks against the Vice President.
To recall, House Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers party-list lawmaker France Castro said late Wednesday night that certain leaders of political parties in the House were talking about impeaching Duterte.
(AI/MNM)
By Junex Doronio
MANILA — The attempt to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte will only succeed if it gains the approval of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., so said former president Rodrigo Duterte’s apologist.
Drawing parallels, FPRRD’s spokesperson and human rights lawyer Harry Roque revealed on Sunday that the outspoken former Chief Executive rejected the plan to impeach his arch-critic, then Vice President Leni Robredo. Duterte believed that she did not pose a threat to his administration.
“Without the approval of the sitting president, any impeachment process not involving the chief executive is bound to fail,” stressed Roque.
Earlier, ACT Teachers party-list Representative France Castro, who sued Duterte for an alleged death threat, confirmed that there were discussions among congressmen to impeach VP Sara.
To recall, the House of Representatives felt insulted when Duterte called the lower chamber ‘the most rotten institution,’ even though he was once a member representing Davao City’s 1st District from June 30, 1998, to June 30, 2001.
The elder Duterte was furious that the House of Representatives, led by Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, stripped the P650-million confidential and Intelligence funds (CIF) for the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd) that VP Sara heads as the concurrent Secretary for 2024.
Instead, the congressmen decided to realign the CIF to the agencies tasked with safeguarding the country’s security and sovereignty.
In his November 18 column for The Philippine Star, Roque reminisced that there were “several” politicians allied with the then Digong administration who wanted to impeach Robredo.
“I recall the politicians presenting the impeachment case against Robredo to then-President Rodrigo Duterte. Duterte gave the thumbs down right away. His response was: ‘What for? She does not pose a threat to the government. Most of our people would not believe her anyway,’” Roque revealed.
At that time, however, the Duterte administration was at the height of its popularity, in contrast to the present situation where VP Sara’s trust and performance ratings in recent surveys were noticeably declining, while Romualdez’s were steadily climbing.
VP Sara and Romualdez are seen as the main protagonists in the 2028 presidential race, five years from now.
(ai/mnm)
By Junex Doronio
MINCING NO WORDS, former Senator Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV has directly charged former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte as the brains behind the destabilization efforts against President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. that will benefit Vice President Sara Duterte if a coup d’etat succeeds.
Trillanes, who was once involved in the July 23, 2003 Oakwood mutiny in Makati City against then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, noted that the destabilization efforts did not ripen to a coup plot because of the absence of a military component due to perception among some military officers that FPRRD is pro-China.
“And besides kung si Duterte, ang feedback ha ng mga junior officers atsaka mid-ranking officers ay natu-turn off sila dahil pro-China siya. So they won’t join him. Kasi otherwise, alam nila na ang ending nito is basically letting China in again, similar to what he did from 2016 to 2022,” Trillanes bared in his interview with “Facts First” podcast hosted by Christian Esguerra on Thursday, November 16.
The former Philippine Navy lieutenant who served as Magdalo military rebel group spokesperson said the Marcos Jr. administration should be “paranoid” amid reports that only the retired generals were involved in the destabilization efforts.
Trillanes recalled that the so-called “Edsa Dos” transpired due to the instigation of some retired generals like the late President Fidel V. Ramos and former Defense Secretary Renato de Villa.
Then President Joseph “Erap” Estrada was ousted president following corruption allegations when the police and military withdrew support from his administration as several top government officials resigned and thousands of people protested on Epifanio delos Santos Ave. (EDSA) in Mandaluyong City from January 17 – 20, 2001.
Then Vice President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo took over as acting president.
As a former coup plotter himself, Trillanes noted the various techniques of what he called Duterte influencers in agitating the public against the Marcos Jr administration and build up a “social volcano” that would later explode.
“Itong Duterte camp, they have mastered the propaganda games in social media whether gaslighting, outright lies, fake news, lahat lahat yan, gagamitin nila yan para ma-pursue nila ang agenda nila kaya naghahanap sila ng iba’t ibang isyu para ma-agitate (the public),” he said.
But they have the same narratives like saying “grabe na yung mga addict ngayon nagbalikan, grabe na ang drugs, grabe na ang crimes nawala lang si Duterte. By implication kaya kailangang bumalik ulit ang Duterte, di ba?”
“ Pero titingnan nyo yung mga nahuhuling drugs, ito yung mga kasangkot doon sa sindikato nila ng Davao group no? Kumbaga nabuko. Yung mga dating hindi hinuhuli, ngayon hinuhuli na, di ba? Tapos yung mga pulis na ginawa nilang part ng criminal syndicate, yun yung mga pinagtatanggal sa puwesto, di ba? Ngayon ang hindi magandang naririnig namin is pwede silang gumawa ng mga high profile crimes tapos ang by implication ang lalabas doon ano na weak yung ano, nagkaroon ng gulo, magulo na, chaotic yung administrasyon kaya kailangan ng pumasok.”
When asked of the Magdalo’s stance with regards to the present dispensation, Trillanes declared: “Kami sa aming grupo, talagang inalyze namin yung situation and we came to the conclusion na it’s in the interest of the country na matapos ng Marcos administration yung kanilang termino hanggang 2028. Dahil pagka ito ay na-cut short at mag-assume ang Sara Duterte as president, babalik tayo doon sa 2016 to 2022 nightmare na I hope na talagang wag naman na nating pagdaanan muli kasi para na tayong mga masokista noon kung ihangad pa natin yun, yung pangyayaring iyon.”
He was apparently referring to the six-year period of the government being subservient to China and the number of extra-judicial killings (EJKs) in the bloody campaign against illegal drugs which critics claimed to be a failed approach.
(AI/MnM)
By Junex Doronio
WITH THE SEEMING IRREVERSIBLE DECIMATION of the once powerful PDP-Laban that was “hijacked” by former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, talks are reverberating in the lower chamber about the possible impeachment of Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte for “betrayal of public trust.”
Reliable sources told Maharlika NuMedia that aside from possible arrest of the Vice President since she was also being investigated by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the “crimes against humanity” charges in relation to the bloody drug war.
In the July 17, 2023 report of Vera Files, VP Sara, Senators Bong Go and Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa were named in ICC probe documents investigating the killings related to the drug war during the previous administration and when FPRRD was mayor of Davao City.
VP Sara’s name was mentioned as knowing and approving the killings when she was city mayor, a post that her father held for more than 20 years.
She was mayor from 2010 to 2013, and from 2016 to 2022.
Vera Files report further bared that a “person knowledgeable of the ICC probe said she could be issued a ‘summons’ by the ICC. If she would not comply with the summons, she would be issued a warrant of arrest.”
Now looms the possibility of VP Duterte’s impeachment with the “mass defection” of FPRRD’s PDP-Laban to the Lakas-CMD headed by Inday Sara’s arch political nemesis Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez and to the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) which was the political vehicle of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in 2022 presidential polls.
“Impeachment is a numbers game and at this point, the Dutertes are losing their ‘magic’ in Philipines realpolitik and VP Sara could be impeached,” the same sources said.
This was bolstered on Wednesday when Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel, PDP-Laban’s Deputy Secretary General for Mindanao, revealed that only four to five members are expected to remain in PDP-Laban as more members are expected to leave in the coming days.
He said at present there are 15 remaining members of the party in the House of Representatives from the original 65 at the start of the 19th Congress.
“Well, I’m still waiting for developments but I’m already weighing my options. Most probably, I’m also transferring to another party,” Pimentel hinted.
He admitted that some members decided to leave the PDP-Laban after FPRRD tagged the lower chamber as the “most rotten institution” in the government, notwithstanding the fact that the feisty former president was once a member representing Davao City’s 1st District, from June 30, 1998 to June 30, 2001.
Notably, former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo — who was stripped of her post as Deputy House Speaker and widely known as political mentor of VP Sara — has still expressed his support for the Romualdez leadership at the 316-strong House of Representatives composed of 253 from congressional districts and 63 party-list representatives.
(AI/MNM)
By Junex Doronio
WITH THE RECENT STATEMENT OF STRONG SUPPORT of presidential sister Senator Imee Marcos for the beleaguered Duterte political family, Vice President Sara Duterte has expressed deep appreciation although she brushed off the speculation of an emerging “Inday Sara-Manang Imee tandem” in 2028.
The 67-year-old lady senator from Ilocos Norte came to the defense of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte who earned the ire of congressmen when he called the House of Representatives the “most rotten institution” despite having been a member of the lower chamber when he served as Davao City’s 1st District Representative from 1998 to 2001.
“Noong 2015, ako ang una at kaisa-isang gobernador na nagdeklara ng suporta para kay President Duterte. At, kahit ako ang nag-iisang matitira, maninindigan ako para sa kanya,” Senator Marcos stressed.
However, she did not specifically comment on the House resolution supporting the leadership of her first cousin Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez who is seen as the likely contender for VP Sara in the 2028 presidential race.
Senator Imee was also Ilocos Norte’s 2nd District Representative from 1998 to 2007.
“Magpapasalamat ako kay Senator Imee Marcos sa kanyang patuloy na pagsuporta sa pulitika sa aming pamilya,” VP Duterte said in reaction.
She also expressed her appreciation to Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Davao City Representative Isidro Ungab who failed to sign the resolution supporting Romualdez.
“Congressman Sid Ungab and Congresswoman Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo have my full support as a politician and as a friend,” VP Duterte noted.
(ai/mnm)
By Junex Doronio
DESPITE THE ANNOUNCEMENT of Vice President Sara Duterte that she would no longer pursue the P650-million total of confidential funds for the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd) for next year, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III has warned that the bicameral conference committee might still restore it.
“Yan ang hindi magandang katotohanan – sa bicam, anything goes. Theoretically speaking, the bicam has the power to introduce and restore anything,” Pimentel said. “Kaya kung interesado kayo sa issue, hanggang dulo ang pagbabantay until pagreport ng bicam.”
On Friday, November 10, Pimentel called for continued vigilance as the bicameral panel composed of senators and congressmen will meet to introduce amendments to the proposed 2024 General Appropriations Act after it hurdles the upper chamber.
The two “houses” of Congress will then have to adopt the bicam committee report before it is sent to Malacañang for President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s signature to become a law.
Pimentel expressed hope that Duterte’s allies in Congress will no longer push for the reinstatement of her confidential funds.
“Sinabi na sa harap namin na ‘Ayaw ko na yan.’ Huwag na kami mag-aksaya ng panahon magdebate na bigyan natin ang taong may ayaw. We shouldn’t waste our time anymore,” Pimentel said, referring to VP Duterte’s own statement on giving up the P650-million confidential funds.
(ai/mnm)
By Junex Doronio
NO CEASEFIRE with Vice President Sara Duterte despite her decision to give up asking for P650 million confidential funds for the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd).
This was the firm stance of House Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro who said on Friday that VP Duterte’s decision to surrender her request next year will not stop calls for her to explain the P125 million confidential funds she spent in the last 11 days of 2022.
“Hindi pa rin ito magiging sagka para igiit pa rin na ipaliwanag ng Office of the Vice President itong P125 million na ginamit niya, ni-request nya,” Castro said in an online press conference.
The ACT Teachers party-list representative said she believes that Duterte decided to abandon her confidential funds because it had become unpopular.
“Kailangan nya pa rin ipaliwanag saan ito ginamit at …. kung hindi niya ito maipaliwanag at hindi niya ito nagamit ayon sa probisyon noong.… joint circular ng iba’t ibang ahensya ay dapat na ibalik niya,” Castro stressed.
To recall, the decision of the House of Representatives to strip VP Duterte’s P650-million confidential funds for 2024 was made “in the best interest of national security.”
Lawmakers crossed party lines to rally behind Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez and castigated former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte for making threats or insinuating harm against Castro.
“Napilitan na sigurong magdesisyon ng ganito ang Vice president dahil talagang naging mabaho itong confidential fund at talagang inayawan ng taumbayan,” Castro noted.
She added: “Isa pa rin sa nagtulak siguro sa naging desisyon ni VP na ayawan na itong confidential fund dahil nagiging unpopular na yung kanyang stand at nakita naman niya maging ang kanyang mga kaalyado dito sa Kongreso ay pumanig doon sa desisyon na i-abolish sa ahensya nya at sa ibang ahensya itong confidential fund,” Castro added.
Castro urged the House of Representatives to conduct an investigation regarding the use of confidential funds to pave the way for legislation prohibiting its use.
(AI/MNM)
By Junex Doronio
SAYING THAT SHE WAS OUT OF COUNTRY when a resolution backing the leadership of Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, former President and now Deputy Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Tuesday declared her support for the House leader.
“I’m currently out of the country. However, as I always said, I continue to support the leadership of Speaker Romualdez,” Macapagal-Arroyo said in a brief statement to the media when her office was asked why she was not a co-author of House Resolution 1414.
FPGMA was noticeably absent when HR 1414 was being circulated that upheld the “integrity and dignity” of the House and support for Romualdez.
This move transpired after former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte called the lower chamber as the “most corrupt institution” in apparent reaction to the stripping of his daughter Vice President Sara Duterte’s P650-million total of confidential funds for 2024.
The House adopted HR 1414 on Monday, November 6, with Romualdez promising that he is ready to fight for the House’s decision to reallocate the confidential funds to the agencies that safeguard the country’s security and sovereignty in the face of Chinese aggression in the West Philippine Sea.
During the six-year-term of FPRRD, the Philippines was “friendly” to China but with the assumption of the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. the country has rekindled “warm ties” with the United States.
Some political observers told Maharlika NuMedia that FPGMA now seems to be shifting her support from VP Duterte to Romualdez which may “affect Inday Sara’s chances” in the 2028 presidential race.
(ai/mnm)
By Junex Doronio
IN AN UNEXPECTED DEVELOPMENT, former President and incumbent House Deputy Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Thursday congratulated Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on his high trust rating.
“I would like to congratulate House Speaker and Lakas President Martin Romualdez on the recent OCTA Research Report reflecting a +6% increase in Trust Rating to 60%,” the former president said in a statement.
According to the third quarter survey of OCTA Research conducted from September 30 to October 4, Romualdez garnered a 60% trust rating and 61% performance rating.
Both the Speaker’s trust and performance ratings increased by 6% compared to the survey conducted in July.
Arroyo’s congratulatory remarks on MR caught many by surprise as the former president is widely known to be the political mentor of Inday Sara, monicker of Vice President Sara Duterte.
The younger Duterte was instrumental in installing FPGMA as Speaker of the House of Representatives in 2018 after ousting Pantaleon “Bebot” Alvarez of Davao del Norte’s 1st district.
MR — as Romualdez supporters call him — is expected to run for president in 2028 in his bid to succeed his cousin President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
MR and Inday Sara are the main protagonists in the 2028 presidential race.
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By Junex Doronio
On All Souls’ Day Thursday, 02 November 2023, Vice President Sara Duterte has exhorted all Filipinos that there’s no better way to honor the memories of the departed loved ones than by leading meaningful lives.
At the same time, Duterte urged the Filipinos to pray for continued blessings for the Philippines and protection against calamities, wars, and “other forces.”
“May this become an opportunity for Filipino families to be together to celebrate the lives of the departed and offer earnest prayers for the salvation of their souls,” Duterte said.
She pointed out that the revered holiday allowed the country to pause in honor of all saints that reminded the world of “God’s compassion, mercy, and enduring love.”
“Let us honor the memories of those who have gone before us by leading more meaningful lives guided by the values of love, forgiveness, and peace,” she added.
The Vice President also called on the faithful to solemnly pray and reflect on their devotion and faith.
“A blessed observance to all. Ang lahat para sa Diyos, sa Bayan, at sa bawat pamilyang Pilipino. Shukran.”
Shukran is an Arabic word that means “thank you” and is also being used by Muslim Filipinos.
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By Junex Doronio
Even though Congress has removed her P650 million confidential funds for the upcoming year, Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte expressed her unwavering determination to continue serving the public.
Inday Sara — as the Vice President is fondly called — said she has committed to making government services more accessible to the public with the establishment of 10 Office of the Vice President (OVP) satellite offices across the country.
“Patuloy ang Office of the Vice President sa layuning landasin ang mga hakbang tungo sa pag-unlad at pagbabago. Ang ating dedikasyon at serbisyo ay tunay na naglalayong mapalapit ang pamahalaan sa bawat mamamayan,” VP Duterte said in a Facebook post on Friday, Oct. 27.
The House of Representatives led by Speaker Ferdinand Martin G Romualdez decided to strip the OVP and the Department of Education (DepEd) of confidential funds for 2024.
The OVP earlier asked for confidential funds of P500 million, while DepEd sought P150 million, for next year.
The lawmakers led by Romualdez decided to realign the confidential funds to the agencies with national security concerns.
Duterte recently held a meeting with officials from the OVP satellite offices in Bacolod, Isabela, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), Cebu, CARAGA, Dagupan, Davao, Bicol, Tacloban, and Zamboanga.
She explained that the OVP satellite offices were established to deliver the Vice President’s projects and programs to more people.
Among these programs are Medical and Burial Assistance, Libreng Sakay, PagbaBAGo Campaign: A Million Learners and Trees, Mag Negosyo Ta ‘Day (MTD), Disaster Operations, PanSarap Program, and Peace 911.
“Sa pamamagitan nito, hindi lamang nakasentro sa National Capital Region ang ating mga programa at naibabahagi rin natin ito sa mga malalayong lugar sa Pilipinas,” Duterte said.
(ai/mnm)
By Junex Doronio
JUST LIKE THE SONG “THAT’S WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR”, presidential sister Senator Imee Marcos has justified her BFF (best friends forever) Vice President Sara Duterte’s request for P650 million in confidential and intelligence funds (CIF) for the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and Department of Education (DepEd) which she heads, saying they are needed to address domestic security threats.
At the same time, Sen. Imee minced no words when she saw politics as a motive behind the House of Representatives’ removal of Inday Sara’s CIF.
“Sinabi ko na noon pa na may halong galit. Hindi ko maintindihan sinong nagmamadali. Ang layo-layo pa ng 2028. Bakit binubugbog na yung frontrunner, ika nga,” the senator exclaimed when interviewed over radio station dzBB.
She added that the House’s move might be a way to sabotage Vice President Sara Duterte, who’s seen as a strong contender in the 2028 presidential race.
Ironically, Sen. Imee and Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, who is widely believed to be eyeing the 2028 presidential race, are first-degree cousins.
The President’s older sister, however, was rumored to be the running mate of VP Duterte if ever she ran for president in 2028.
“Hindi naman lahat siguro totally pulitika, pero yung sobrang galit, sobrang personal eh. Nakakaduda,” the senator quipped in reaction to Inday Sara’s critics.
She said VP Duterte’s request for confidential funds could be reinstated as budget for maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE).
“Kung talagang intel fund lang, edi tanggalin. Eh marami pang salita, marami pang banta. Nahahaluan ng kung anu-ano eh,” Manang Imee fumed. (ai/mnm)
By Junex Doronio
FIVE YEARS BEFORE THE NEXT PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS, Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez has increased up to 60% satisfactory ratings in a recent survey while Vice President Sara Duterte has a 14% drop from her rating in the previous survey.
This was revealed by the results of the Pulse ng Pilipino tracking survey of The Issues and Advocacy Center (The CENTER) conducted from September 23 to 30.
Some 1,200 registered voters nationwide were interviewed in the non-commissioned Pulso ng Pilipino survey.
Duterte posted a 54% net satisfaction rating (71% satisfied, 17% dissatisfied) while Romualdez’s net satisfaction rating rose by 5% to 60% (70% satisfied, 10% dissatisfied).
The Center noted that “this is also the highest performance rating posted by an incumbent Speaker in the history of the Lower House.”
Meanwhile, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. posted a net satisfaction rating of 58% (73% satisfied, 15% dissatisfied), lower than the 69% rating he posted during the second quarter survey.
Also based on the third quarter survey, PBBM received a net trust rating of 69% (82% complete trust, 13% do not trust) while Duterte has a 66% rating (79% complete trust, 13% distrust).
Notably, Romualdez has 70% (79% complete trust, 9% do not trust).
Some political observers told Maharlika NuMedia that Sara Duterte and Martin Romualdez will likely square off in the 2028 presidential elections, with Senator Risa Hontiveros as the probable standard bearer of a “center-moderate left” coalition.
(ai/mnm)