By Liezelle Soriano
MANILA — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said that the UniTeam remains despite the criticisms that the President is getting from the father of Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio.
When asked about his relationship with the Vice President given the attacks made against him by her family, the President said their relationship remains the same.
“Well, it’s exactly the same because she has – of that nature. And, wala naman siyang sinasabi na ganyang klase. So, hindi naman nagbabago,” Marcos said.
The President also emphasized that his “UniTeam” with Vice President Duterte is still intact.
I believe so because if you remember ‘Uniteam’ is not just one party or two parties or three parties. It’s the unification of all political, hopefully, all political forces in the Philippines to come together for the good country,” the Chief Executive said.
(el Amigo/MNM)
By Junex Doronio
MANILA — It’s not rocket science not to be able to comprehend that Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Zimmerman Duterte wanted President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to resign so that his sister Vice President Sara Duterte could take over the country’s top post.
This, in essence, was former Akbayan party-list Rep. Barry Gutierrez was driving at when he questioned on Tuesday Vice President Sara Duterte’s defense that her younger brother only made the “resign PBBM” dare out of “brotherly love.”
“Excuse me po, pero huwag natin kalimutan na kapag nasunod ang kapatid mo, ikaw bigla ang Presidente. Wow lang, diba?” said Gutierrez in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
Under the rules of succession in the 1987 Constitution, the vice president will take over if the president resigns.
“Hindi yan ‘brotherly love’ kundi ‘blatant self-interest’,” Gutierrez pointed out.
In a rally last Sunday (January 28), Baste called on Marcos Jr. to resign, expressing dismay with his alleged laziness and uncaring leadership.
(el Amigo/MNM)
By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Like a sore thumb, Vice President Sara Duterte’s stay in the Cabinet of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. is no longer tenable.
This is according to Bayan Muna chairperson Neri Colmenares who, on Monday (29 Jan 2024), said VP Sara should resign following the word war between PBBM and former president Rodrigo Roa Duterte.
“It’s her choice, and it’s President Marcos’ choice. Ang sinasabi ko lang naman, how can you maintain your position in the Cabinet after your father and your brother called your principal (out) for being a drug addict and at the same time dapat mag-resign,” Colmenares said.
On Sunday (January 28) in a Davao City rally, FPRRD assailed Marcos Jr. and accused him of being a drug user while Davao City Mayor Baste Duterte spewed expletives at the President and dared him to resign.
However, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said the President was “never on our watch list.”
On Monday, Marcos Jr. shot back, saying the elder Duterte’s tirade may have been prompted by the effects of fentanyl, a powerful painkiller that Duterte admitted in 2016 he used to take for a motorcycling injury.
“Para sa akin, the Vice President cannot continue to be a part of the Cabinet ni President Marcos… Hindi na yan tenable na mag-stay ka pa dyan. What will you do in Cabinet meetings? Puwede ba yun, wala nang tiwala sayo ang buong gabinete?” Colmenares stressed.
(el Amigo/MNM)
By Liezelle Soriano
MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio vowed to join the kick off Bagong Pilipinas in Quirino Granstand on Sunday 28 Jan 2024) together with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
“Kaisa ang buong Department of Education sa pagsusulong ng 8-point Socioeconomic Agenda ng Marcos administration para sa pagbabago ng buhay ng mga Pilipino,” Duterte-Carpio said.
She said that she has attended the prayer rally of different sectors in Davao City against supposed people’s initiative for Charter change.
“Mahalagang makita at maintindihan natin ang panganib na nakaamba sa atin oras na tuluyan nating isinuko ang ating Saligang Batas sa kamay ng mga taong may personal at politikal na interes,” Duterte-Carpio said.
Davao Third District Councilor Conrado Baluran earlier said that over 50,000 individuals were expected to attend the prayer rally.
“Together with the calling for every Filipino people to participate in this greater cause for a nationwide campaign, Davao City will remain resilient and will not just stand aside as an observer but shall take part continuously striving to unite for one nation, one strong opposition,” Baluran said.
(el Amigo/MNM)
By Junex Doronio
MANILA — It’s just a text or phone call away between BFF (best friends forever), but it’s seemingly not the case between President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Romualdez Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte with regards to the latter’s 2025 election plans.
On Wednesday, the feisty Vice President said she has yet to discuss her election plans with PBBM.
“Hindi pa po kami nakakapag-usap ni President Marcos about elections,” Duterte said when asked by reporters in a chance interview.
The Vice President said this in reaction to her 2022 UniTeam running mate’s statement that she is “testing the waters” when it comes to her political plans.
Inday Sara — monicker of the Vice President — recently announced in a Davao City event that she’s running for an elective position in next year’s midterm elections after hearing that his brothers Davao City 1st district Representative Paolo “Pulong” Zimmerman Duterte and Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte would no longer run.
However, she did not reveal what position she would be running for.
Duterte was at the Esteban Abada Elementary School in Quezon City for the launch of the School Mental Health Program and School-Based Feeding Program for 2024.
There have been rumors that the UniTeam no longer exists and that the camps of PBBM and Inday Sara are cutthroat with each other.
Former Senator Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV even warned that PBBM is in a “perilous situation” as long as Inday Sara remains Vice President.
(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 — Mincing no words, Vice President Sara Duterte has assailed those purportedly involved in buying signatures for Charter change (Cha-Cha) via the People’s Initiative (PI).
Inday Sara — the monicker of the Vice President — stressed that these self-serving individuals, whom she did not name, are exploiting poor Filipinos, disrespecting their decision-making, and disregarding the welfare of the nation.
“Mga kababayan, ang isinasagawang pera kapalit ng pirma para sa People’s Initiative’ ay patuloy na nangyayari araw-araw sa siyudad ng Davao at sa iba pang bahagi ng bansa. Isa itong repleksyon ng pagkahilig ng mga politiko na bumili ng boto tuwing eleksyon. Ito ay pagsasamantala sa kahirapan ng ating mga mamamayan at kawalan ng respeto sa kanilang karapatan na magdesisyon nang malaya, walang takot, o impluwensya gamit ang salapi,” the young Duterte said.
Earlier, Liberal Party (LP) president and Albay Representative Edcel Lagman raised concern that certain politicians were buying voters’ signatures to falsely show there was a People’s Initiative or PI for Cha-Cha.
Presidential sister Senator Imee Marcos also claimed that around P20 million was being offered to local politicians to gather the signatures needed to push Cha-Cha via PI.
(el Amigo/MNM)
By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Firing the first shot this new year, ACT Teachers party-list Representative France Castro has lambasted the Department of Education (DepEd) headed by Vice President Sara Duterte for constructing only 2,201 classrooms in 2023.
The House Deputy Minority Leader pointed out that this falls far short of the 165,000 needed and missing the target of 5,000 to 6,000.
“Disyembre 31 na pero 2,201 lang ang nagawa, ni wala sa kalahati ng sarili nilang target tapos may gana pang ipagmalaki na magandang accomplishment daw ito, napakababa naman ng standard ng Kalihim ng DepEd at napakalayo sa bilis nyang gastusin ng P125 milyon ng illegal confidential fund sa loob lamang ng 11 araw noong 2022,” Castro said on Sunday, December 31, 2023.
The national democrat lawmaker was referring to the P125 million confidential funds spent by the Office of the Vice President in the last 11 days of 2022.
“As it is, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s vow to prioritize the construction of new classrooms and DepEd Secretary VP Sara Duterte’s recognition of the enormity of shortage in school infrastructure and facilities in her Basic Education Report 2023 appear to be insincere as they failed to demonstrate their firm resolve to cut down the classroom shortage significantly,” Castro hammered on.
She underscored the need to construct 50,000 annually to improve the learning conditions in public schools.
“It had been done and it can be done again if only the current administration were sincere in addressing the classroom crisis as well as the bigger learning crisis,” the ACT Teachers party-list representative stressed.
(IAmigo/MNM)
By Junex Doronio
MANILA — As the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) is poised to observe its 55th foundation anniversary on December 26 this year, Vice President Sara Duterte has reiterated her strong resolve to wipe out with military might the Maoist insurgency and thumbed down again any form of peace talks.
In a statement issued Thursday night (December 21), Duterte recognized the “heroism” of Army Sgt. Jernell Ramillano who died during an encounter with the New People’s Army (NPA) on December 17.
He was reportedly killed during a clash between 2ID troopers and an NPA band in Balayan, Batangas.
Six rebels also died in the fighting.
Lt. Col. Hector Estolas, 2nd ID public affairs chief, said a certain Kyrie/Vince, a vice platoon leader of the SPP Kawing of the Southern Tagalog Regional Party Committee’s Sub-Regional Military Area 4C, was critically wounded and was abandoned by his comrades.
He eventually died.
Two M16 rifles, an M653 rifle, a shotgun, 13 cellphones, and a laptop computer were among the items left behind by fleeing rebels.
2ID commander Maj. Gen. Roberto Capulong praised Ramillano for his bravery and heroism.
The NPA is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) which, for nearly 55 years now, has been advocating what it calls the “protracted people’s war” formulated by Mao Zedong in China by “encircling the cities from the countrysides.”
Ambushcades have been the norm of attack by the Maoist rebels ever since.
Inday Sara — as the VP is fondly called — said Ramillano was just one of the victims of the “heinous crime” committed by communist rebels.
She also related the story of the mother of another soldier, Army 1Lt Jaren Relota, who was killed while fighting the NPA in Davao City in 2018.
“Paulit-ulit na sumasagi sa aking isipan ang tanong ng ina ni Jaren na nagsasabing, ‘Inday Sara, ilang anak pa ba namin ang mamamatay dahil sa mga teroristang NPA,” Duterte recalled.
She stressed that the communists were out to destroy the government and lead the country to war, poverty, and injustice.
She once again described the recent agreement between the Marcos Jr. administration and communist groups as an “agreement with the devil.”
On Friday, December 22, the military reported that soldiers from the Army 2nd Infantry Division on Tuesday thwarted a plan by communist rebels to launch attacks during the Christmas season following the recovery of anti-personnel mines during a brief clash in Tagkawayan, Quezon last Tuesday (December 18).
Reports said troops from the 85th Infantry Battalion chanced upon a 10-man NPA group in Barangay Manato Central, Tagkawayan.
After a 10-minute firefight, the rebels withdrew, leaving behind four anti-personnel mines, a bandolier with four magazines and ammunition, four backpacks, and subversive documents.
Capulong said the rebels were members of the Platun Reymark of the Southern Tagalog Regional Party Committee under Sany Broncano Alias Tau.
(IAmigo/MNM)
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)