Latest news with #Duterte
GMA Network
7 hours ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
SC a 'last resort' for House prosecutors if Senate junks VP Sara impeachment —spox
The House of Representatives Prosecution Panel would resort going to the Supreme Court (SC) on the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte should the Senate move to dismiss the case, according to their spokesperson Atty. Antonio Audie Bucoy. "Wala kaming ibang pupuntahan kasi ang SC lang ang final judge ng Constitutional issue of whether it is compliant with the Constitution or not,' Bucoy said at the Saturday News Forum. (We have nowhere else to go because the SC is the final judge of the Constitutional issue of whether it is compliant with the Constitution or not.) Bucoy made the remark after Duterte entered a 'not guilty' plea in the verified impeachment complaint filed against her by the House of Representatives, which she called merely a 'scrap of paper.' In the 35-page answer ad cautelam (with caution) submitted by Duterte's camp to the Senate impeachment court on Monday, the Vice President argued that the fourth impeachment complaint must be dismissed for being illegal, saying that it violated the one-year bar rule under the 1987 Constitution. The House of Representatives prosecution panel, in response, asked the Senate impeachment court to reject Duterte's bid to dismiss the impeachment case against her, saying the severity of the charges requires no less than a full and transparent trial and her conviction. Should the Senate impeachment court rule in favor of the Vice President's appeal, Bucoy said the House prosecution would file before the Supreme Court a 'petition for certiorari with mandamus, questioning the exercise of abuse of discretion amounting to lack of jurisdiction.' ''Yun lang ang puwede namin i-akyat eh, 'yung grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack of jurisdiction… mandamus for the [Supreme] Court to compel the [Senate] court to try it,' he said. (That's all we can do. The grave abuse of discretion amounts to a lack of jurisdiction… mandamus for the Supreme Court to compel the Senate court to proceed with the trial.) 'The only thing the SC can do is either reverse or modify 'yung kanilang decision,' he added. (The SC can either reverse or modify the decision.) Motion Senate President Francis Escudero on Wednesday said that the Senate impeachment court may vote on the motion to dismiss the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte if a senator-judge makes such a submission. 'Wala namang bawal na motion... Asan ba 'yung provision sa Saligang Batas o sa Rules on Impeachment na bawal ang ganito o ganyang klaseng motion? Hindi mo namang pwedeng pigilan,' Escudero said in a press conference. (There is no prohibited motion. Where is the law, constitutional provision, or Rules of Impeachment that a certain motion is prohibited? You cannot stop someone from making a motion.) Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa had moved in the plenary for the dismissal of the Articles of Impeachment, but his motion was eventually amended so that the complaint be returned to the House of Representatives pending a couple of certifications. 'Constitutional crisis' Bucoy, meanwhile, warned that it would become a 'constitutional crisis' if the Senate refuses to follow what the Supreme Court's decision would be. 'There will be a constitutional crisis kung nag utos ang SC at ayaw sumunod then we have a crisis, pero I doubt kung hindi sila susunod," he said. This, as Bucoy stressed the importance of proceeding with the trial. 'Para sa amin, mahalaga na magkaroon ng paglilitis, kahit na i-acquit niyo yan, basta naipakita namin sa bayan ang mga ebidensya namin sa lahat ng krimen na ginawa niya,' he said. (For us, it is important to have a trial, even if you acquit her, as long as we have shown the people our evidence for all the crimes she committed.) 'Bayan na ang maghuhusga sa inyo. Pero babalikan ko ulit, nagtitiwala pa rin kami sa proseso dahil ito haka-haka pa rin. Malalaman natin sa susunod na mga araw kung tama ang ating pag agam-agam,' he added. (Let the people be the judge. Again, we still trust the process because this is still speculation. We will know in the coming days if our doubts are correct.) Duterte is accused of betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, and other high crimes mainly over alleged misuse of P612.5 million worth of confidential funds and for threatening to kill President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., his wife Liza and his Speaker Martin Romualdez of Leyte, among others. The Vice President has denied the allegations. Bucoy also said that the House prosecution team has not yet discussed whether it will file a motion for inhibition against senator-judges who have expressed biases in the case. 'I think there's growing opinion… it's gaining ground na 'wag na lang.' Malilihis na naman eh. Pangalawa, it will only compound our numbers issues,' he said. —VAL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
a day ago
- Business
- GMA Network
VP Sara sees Davao-Samal bridge's potential to boost growth
Vice President Sara Duterte reaffirmed her support for the continued construction of the Davao-Samal Bridge amid legal challenges, saying the infrastructure project is crucial to unlocking the economic potential of the island and the Davao region as a whole. 'Sana ay makita ng lahat, hindi lang ng ating mga Huwes, kundi ng buong komunidad na napakalaki ng tulong ng Davao-Samal Bridge sa ekonomiya ng Davao City at ng Samal City — at siyempre na rin sa mobilization and transport ng goods and people,' Duterte told reporters. (I hope everyone — not just the judges, but the entire community — sees how much the Davao-Samal Bridge will help the economies of Davao and Samal, and in the transport of goods and people.) The multi-billion-peso bridge, initiated during the term of former President Rodrigo Duterte, is now facing uncertainty after a Supreme Court petition sought to stop its construction due to alleged environmental violations. Despite the legal roadblock, Duterte stressed its transformative potential for local trade, tourism, and daily life on the island. Duterte also outlined her vision for long-term growth in the Island Garden City of Samal (IGACOS), urging local leaders to prioritize the basics: electricity, clean water, and investor-friendly systems. 'Kailangan talaga yung regular na supply ng kuryente at access sa malinis na tubig… Basic necessities po 'yan na kailangan natin pagtulungan at unahin,' she said. (We really need regular electricity and access to clean water — these are basic necessities we must prioritize together.) 'Kailangan nilang i-review kung ano ang nagpapatagal sa proseso sa loob ng kanilang LGU para sa pagbigay ng permits,' she added. (They need to review what's causing delays in their local permit processes.) She said the city has the potential to become more competitive in tourism and commerce, provided it reduces red tape and maintains infrastructure that meets investor and resident needs. Moreover, the Vice President also promoted the Office of the Vice President's ongoing programs including 'Mag Negosyo Ta 'Day', a livelihood initiative for micro-entrepreneurs; 'PagbaBAGo', a tree-planting and education advocacy program; The Disaster Operations Center, for quick emergency response; and RIICE, which provides rapid assistance in times of urgent need. She further responded to viral reports about teachers in remote areas like the Akbual IP School in Sarangani, who cross four rivers and trek for hours to reach their students. 'Ang request nila ay para sa mga estudyante, hindi para sa sarili nila. Common ito sa mga teachers — inuuna talaga nila ang kapakanan ng kanilang mga estudyante,' she said. (Their request is for the students, not themselves. This is common among teachers — they always put their students first.) The OVP committed to delivering waterproof school bags and supplies tailored for the harsh conditions faced by these communities. 'Magpapagawa kami ng special kind of bag para sa kanila na waterproof,' Duterte said. (We will have a special kind of waterproof bag made for them.) On her father's mayoral return In the same interview, she also addressed the scenario in which her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, might not be able to take his oath as Davao City mayor by June 30. In that case, Vice Mayor Baste Duterte would assume the position as acting mayor. Asked about a recent survey showing her as a frontrunner in the 2028 presidential race with Senator Bong Go as a possible running mate, she replied: 'Nakuratan ko sa imoha… Pwede dili na lang sa ta anang survey-survey karon kay layo pa gyud kaayo nang 2028,' she said with a laugh. (I was surprised by that… Let's skip the surveys for now because 2028 is still too far away.) 'Ang pagpapasalamat ko ay 'yung patuloy na pagtitiwala ng taong bayan sa Tanggapan ng Pangalawang Pangulo,' she added. (I'm thankful for the continued trust of the people in the Office of the Vice President.)—LDF, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
a day ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Ombudsman: We're not grabbing Congress' power to impeach
Ombudsman Samuel Martires denied he is out to sabotage the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte when his office acted on the report filed by the House Committee on Good Governance and Public Accountability. 'We are not grabbing the power of Congress to impeach an impeachable officer, no. Neither are we trying to supplant the findings of the House of Representatives," he said. Martires said that according to their rules, they should treat committee reports submitted to his office as a complaint. 'We do not treat it as a paper weight or a scratch paper,' he said. On June 19, the Ombudsman acted on the committee report and asked Duterte to file her counter-affidavit to the alleged misuse of confidential funds of the Department of Education and the Office of the Vice President. Duterte filed her counter-affidavit at the Ombudsman on Friday, June 27, 2025. The House of Representatives had submitted a committee report on June 16, alleging plunder, technical malversation, falsification, use of falsified documents, perjury, bribery, corruption of public officers, and betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the Constitution. Also named as respondents were Edward Fajarda and Gina Acosta, Special Disbursing Officers; Asst. Secretary Atty. Sunshine Charry Fajarda, Director for Strategic Management Office; retired Maj. Gen. Nolasco Mempin, Undersecretary for Administration; and Annalyn Sevilla, Undersecretary for Finance Service. All are from the Department of Education. Those charged from the Office of the Vice President were Atty. Zuleika Lopez, Undersecretary and Chief of Staff; Lemuel Ortonio, Asst. Chief of Staff; Lt. Col. Dennis Nolasco, Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group; and Col. Raymund Dante Lachia, Commander of Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group of the Philippine Army. Martires said that his office is merely investigating the complaint and would wait for the impeachment trial to finish to determine whether any criminal charges may be filed against Duterte if and when the impeachment court convicts her. 'What we have right now is the power to investigate but not to prosecute. The Ombudsman or any investigating body has to await the result of the impeachment proceeding. But if the Vice President is acquitted by the impeachment court, wala kaming power to charge her,' he said. He added that the investigation may take longer than the trial, saying it may be up to the next Ombudsman to tackle the issue. 'Medyo matagal-tagal pa ito. 'Yun ang mahirap sa mga taong nerbiyoso. 'Yun ang mahirap sa mga taong hindi nag-aral. We are not dismissing anything. What is there to dismiss when our only power is to investigate,' he said. Martires is due to retire on July 27 after serving as Ombudsman for seven years. He was appointed by former President Rodrigo Duterte first as associate justice of the Supreme Court and later on as Ombudsman. Martires denied he acted on the House committee report to pre-empt the impeachment court to favor the younger Duterte. 'Mula nang ako'y in-appoint ni Digong (former President Duterte) sa Supreme Court hanggang sa Ombudsman, ni minsan ay hindi nakiusap sa akin si Digong,' he said. —LDF, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
a day ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
VP Sara answers alleged fund misuse before Ombudsman
Vice President Sara Duterte on Friday filed a counter-affidavit before the Office of the Ombudsman in response to allegations of fund misuse in her office and during her tenure as Secretary of the Department of Education. The counter-affidavit responded to allegations of technical malversation of public funds, falsification of public documents, perjury, bribery, corruption of public officers, plunder, betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the Constitution against the Vice President and her subordinates. The same allegations were levelled against Duterte by the House committee on good government and public accountability which conducted a series of inquiries. Based on the information provided to GMA News Online by the Vice President's camp, the reply to the Ombudsman's order was filed by lawyers Paul Lim and former Department of Education spokesperson Michael Poa at 1:10 pm on June 27, 2025. The Ombudsman on June 19 directed Duterte to comment on the allegations. The House panel was named the complainant. The House panel, however, said it did not file a complaint against the Vice President before the Ombudsman but merely recommended the filing of charges. The panel had said that it found that the OVP and DepEd submitted acknowledgment receipts riddled with wrong dates, signatories with no birth records, unnamed signatories, and non-readable names of signatories before the Commission of Audit (COA) to justify the disbursement of around P612.5 million worth of confidential funds. The Vice President has maintained that she never misused public funds. But as a result of the panel's findings, the Vice President is now facing an impeachment trial before the Senate. Earlier, House prosecution panel spokesperson and lawyer Antonio Audie Bucoy said that the Ombudsman should wait for the verdict of the Senate impeachment court on Duterte before deciding whether she should face criminal prosecution. "The impeachment proceedings are of primordial consideration," Bucoy said in a press conference. "'Yan ho ang pinakamataas na antas tungo sa [hakbang na] panagutin ang impeachable official. Under the Ombudsman Act, Republic Act 6770, meron hong dalawang provisions doon na sinasabi na ang Ombudsman ay hindi pwedeng imbestigahan ang impeachable official because sapagkat ang mekanismo na nakasaad sa saligang batas [ay] impeachment, na ang may jurisdiction ay ang Senado, sitting as an impeachment court,' he said, referring to Section 21 of the Ombudsman law. (The impeachment is the highest-ranked accountability tool for an impeachable official. The Ombudsman Act has two provisions stating that the Ombudsman cannot investigate an impeachable official because the process for that is impeachment, which is under the jurisdiction of the Senate impeachment court.) 'Pangalawa, meron din diyan provision na nagsasabi kung iimbestigahan, maaaring imbestigahan ng Ombudsman ang impeachable official kapag ang layunin nito ay mag-file ng verified impeachment complaint. Yun lang ho,' Bucoy added, referring to Section 22 of the Ombudsman law. (Secondly, the same law states that if the Ombudsman investigates an impeachable official, the goal must be to file a verified impeachment complaint. That's it.) The Office of the Ombudsman is headed by Samuel Martires, a former Supreme Court and Sandiganbayan Associate Justice. His tenure will end in July this year. —LDF, GMA Integrated News
AFP
a day ago
- Politics
- AFP
AI fakes duel over Sara Duterte impeachment in Philippines
Neither were real. The schoolboys and elderly woman making their cases were AI creations, examples of increasingly sophisticated fakes possible with even basic online tools. "Why single out the VP?", a digitally created boy in a white school uniform asks, arguing that the case was politically motivated. The House of Representatives impeached Sara Duterte in early February on charges of graft, corruption and an alleged assassination plot against former ally and running mate President Ferdinand Marcos (archived link). But after convening as an impeachment court on June 10, the senior body immediately sent the case back to the House, questioning its constitutionality (archived link). Duterte ally Senator Ronald dela Rosa shared the video of the schoolboys -- since viewed millions of times -- praising the youths for having a "better understanding of what's happening" than their adult counterparts. The vice president's younger brother Sebastian, mayor of family stronghold Davao, said the clip proved "liberals" did not have the support of the younger generation. When the schoolboys were exposed as digital creations, the vice president and her supporters were unfazed. "There's no problem with sharing an AI video in support of me. As long as it's not being turned into a business," Duterte told reporters (archived link). "Even if it's AI... I agree with the point," said Dela Rosa, the one-time enforcer of ex-president Rodrigo Duterte's drug war. Five minutes' work The video making the case for impeachment -- also with millions of views -- depicts an elderly woman peddling fish and calling out the Senate for failing to hold a trial. "You 18 senators, when it's the poor who steal, you want them locked up immediately, no questions asked. But if it's the vice president who stole millions, you protect her fiercely," she says in Tagalog. Both clips bore a barely discernible watermark for the Google video-generation platform Veo. AFP fact-checkers also identified visual inconsistencies, such as overly smooth hair and teeth and storefronts with garbled signage. Image Screenshot of the AI-generated video with the "Veo" watermark highlighted by AFP Image Screenshot of visual details in the AI-generated image highlighted in red by AFP The man who created the fish peddler video, Bernard Senocip, 34, told AFP it took about five minutes to produce the eight-second clip. Reached via his Facebook page, Senocip defended his work in a video call, saying AI characters allowed people to express their opinions while avoiding the "harsh criticism" frequent on social media. "As long as you know your limitations and you're not misleading your viewers, I think it's fine," he said, noting that -- unlike the Facebook version -- he had placed a "created by AI" tag on the video's TikTok upload. While AFP has previously reported on websites using hot-button Philippine issues to generate cash, Senocip said his work was simply a way of expressing his political opinions. The schoolboy video's creator, the anonymous administrator of popular Facebook page Ay Grabe, declined to be interviewed but said his AI creations' opinions had been taken from real-life students (archived link). AFP, along with other media outlets, is paid by some platforms including Meta, Google and TikTok for work tackling disinformation. 'Grey area' Using AI to push viewpoints via seemingly ordinary people can make beliefs seem "more popular than they actually are", said Jose Mari Lanuza of Sigla Research Center, a non-profit organisation that studies disinformation (archived link). "In the case of the impeachment, this content fosters distrust not only towards particular lawmakers but towards the impeachment process." While some AI firms have developed measures to protect public figures, Jose Miguelito Enriquez, an associate research fellow at Nanyang Technological University, said the recent Philippine videos were a different animal (archived link). "Some AI companies like OpenAI previously committed to prevent users from generating deepfakes of 'real people', including political candidates," he said. "But... these man-on-the-street interviews represent a grey area because technically they are not using the likeness of an actual living person." Crafting realistic "humans" was also getting easier, said Dominic Ligot, founder of Data and AI Ethics PH (archived link). "Veo is only the latest in a string of rapidly evolving tools for AI media generation," he said, adding the newest version produced "smoother, more realistic motion and depth compared to earlier AI video models". Google did not reply when AFP asked if they had developed safeguards to prevent Veo from being used to push misinformation. For Ligot, guardrails around the swiftly evolving technology are a must, warning AI was increasingly being used to "influence how real people feel, pressure decision-makers and distort democratic discourse".
