Latest news with #pro-Duterte
The Diplomat
6 days ago
- Business
- The Diplomat
Philippine Senators Express Doubt Over Vice President Sara Duterte Impeachment Case
The audacity of some senators in their public pronouncements reflects the polarizing impact of the impeachment case. The impeachment trial of Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte could face more delays and hurdles after several senators publicly expressed doubts about it. Duterte is accused of misusing her confidential funds and conspiring to assassinate the first family. She was impeached by the House of Representatives in February, but the Senate only tackled the complaint in June, two days before the adjournment of Congress. Under the Philippine Constitution, the Senate is obligated to conduct a trial and issue a verdict for impeachment cases. When the impeachment court was convened, senators voted to remand the complaint and directed the House of Representatives to certify that its new members are interested in pursuing the case. The new Congress' term started on June 30, and its first session is scheduled for July 28. During the transition between the old and new Congress, Duterte submitted her response and questioned the basis of the impeachment complaint. 'Stripped of its factual and legal conclusions, it is nothing more than a scrap of paper,' Duterte said in her pleading and asked the senator-judges to dismiss the case. The Senate president acknowledged that all motions will be allowed, including the proposal to dismiss the case by a simple majority. Another senator noted that defense lawyers could invoke the constitutionality of the articles of impeachment and the possibility of resolving this issue through a vote. A pro-Duterte senator announced his intention to question if the new Senate has jurisdiction over the impeachment case. But a member of the commission who drafted the 1987 Constitution reminded the senators that they have no power to prematurely dismiss the case without conducting a trial that involves the presentation of evidence by both the prosecution and the defense. It is not just the legal aspect of the impeachment case that some senators are questioning. Senator JV Estrada warned that the impeachment might cause economic disruption. 'My worry here is foreign direct investments, which we are longing for – these are what bring in businesses – invest in power plants, railway systems, and airports. All of these might have to take a backseat for a while,' he said in a media interview. Senator Migz Zubiri, a former Senate president, described the impeachment as a 'witch hunt.' 'I think it is a witch hunt because they want to remove her from public service so others can take her place. And some will be left without a rival candidate in the 2028 election,' he said in a recent media forum. These statements drew criticism from House prosecutors. 'Those words should not come from a Senator-judge who is expected to receive the evidence with impartiality and to treat the impeachment as a constitutional process,' a congressman-prosecutor told the media. Former Senator Leila de Lima, who is part of the prosecution panel as an incoming party-list representative, also rejected the description of the impeachment trial as a witch hunt. 'I hope they avoid these comments, which exhibit their personal biases with respect to the impeachment issues,' she was quoted as saying in a news report. There's no denying the political nature of the impeachment trial, but the senators are expected to fulfill their mandate regardless of their party affiliation. The audacity of some senators in their public pronouncements reflects the polarizing impact of the impeachment case. Senators are probably wary of the backlash they may incur from both supporters and critics of Duterte, who remains the frontrunner in the 2028 presidential election. Their reluctance to proceed with the impeachment trial affirms not only the continuing influence of the Duterte family but also the stark challenges in pursuing truth, accountability, and justice in the Philippines.
GMA Network
25-06-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
VP Sara Duterte: State of the nation is ‘dire, sad, frustrating'
The state of the nation is dire, it is sad, and for me personally, it is frustrating, Duterte said in a press conference in Pampanga on June 25, 2025. (Screenshot from Inday Sara FB Page) San Fernando City, Pampanga —Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday lamented the state of the Philippines under the administration of President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. 'The state of the nation is dire, it is sad, and for me personally, it is frustrating,' Duterte said at a press conference after confirming that she will not be attending Marcos' fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 28. She said that she gets embarrassed as a Filipino thinking that other countries are seeing the current state of the country. Duterte also seemingly got annoyed at criticisms about her recent travels abroad, explaining that she is not using public funds when she is on personal trips. 'Hindi kasi nila naiintindihan…hindi ko alam kung sinasadya nila na ayaw intindihin o talagang bobo lang talaga ang nasa administrasyon. I'd likely lean doon sa latter," she said. (They don't understand...I don't know if they're deliberately trying not to understand or if the administration is just really stupid. I'd likely lean towards the latter.) This, as Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro last Friday questioned if Duterte's travel to Australia was personal or for the country. The Vice President emphasized that she is only utilizing public funds when her travel is 'official' because it means that she is formally traveling for her work at the Office of the Vice President (OVP). 'Hindi ibig sabihin na personal na lakad 'yan ay holiday o pamamasyal 'yan. 'Yun ang ibig sabihin ng personal—walang ginamit na pera ng gobyerno sa lakad na ito pero nagtatrabaho pa rin ako,' she said. (It doesn't mean that if I'm on a personal trip, I'm already on holiday or just sightseeing. Personal trip means no government funds were used on the trip, but I'm still working.) 'Kung hindi sila bobo, maiintindihan nila 'yung ginagawa ko. Bobo kasi sila eh kaya hindi nila naiintindihan. Umupo sila, tignan nila. Hindi ko sasabihin kung ano ginagawa ko. I don't like talking about how I think and what I think, so kung meron silang gusto basahin doon, good luck,' she added. (If they weren't stupid, they would understand what I'm doing. They're stupid, so they don't understand. Better sit down and watch what I do. I won't tell them what I'm doing. I don't like talking about how I think and what I think, so if they want to think something else, good luck.) Pro-China? Duterte also shrugged off allegations that her family is pro-Duterte, saying that she is not pro any country at all. 'Hindi nila dapat nila ako pinapasagot kung pro-China ako. Sagutin niya ang tanong ko: Where is the independent foreign policy that is required by the Constitution? Where is it right now? Explain to the Filipino people how you are going to implement your independent foreign policy,' she said. 'Matagal na nilang narrative na pro-China ako. I am not pro any country at all. Ang sinasabi ko lagi, we need to develop, we need to maintain, and we need to level up our relations with all countries, hindi lang sa China,' she added. (They've been using that 'I am pro-China' narrative for a long time now. I am not pro any country at all. What I always say is that we need to develop, we need to maintain, and we need to level up our relations with all countries, not just China.) The Vice President was reacting to the statement of Castro on Tuesday, saying that Marcos already expected her criticisms on how the government is handling the territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). 'The President said, 'We expect that from the Dutertes because they are pro-China. At ang Pangulo po ay pro-Filipinos (The President is pro-Filipinos),'' Castro said. Duterte also expressed frustration about what the Marcos administration is currently doing, saying that it needs to ensure that the lives of Filipinos are really improving beyond the photos. 'Hindi trabaho ng Presidente ang mag-photo op sa nahuli na drugs at mag-photo op sa pagsira ng drugs,' she said. (It is not the job of the President to do a photo opportunity when drugs are seized and when they are being destroyed.) Marcos earlier on Wednesday witnessed the destruction of P9,484,134,038.62 worth of dangerous drugs at the Clean Leaf International Corporation in Tarlac province. GMA News Online has reached out to Malacanang for its reaction.—LDF, GMA Integrated News
Filipino Times
10-04-2025
- Politics
- Filipino Times
Palace unfazed by claims linking Harry Roque to ‘polvoron video'
Malacañang expressed no surprise after reports emerged linking former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque to the so-called 'polvoron video' that targets President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. In a briefing, Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro noted that Roque had openly encouraged the distribution of what she described as a manipulated video. Castro emphasized, 'This isn't new; it's fortunate that someone who used to be their ally has confirmed that Atty. Harry Roque circulated the video. We even observed this at their rally in Vancouver, Canada.' When questioned about President Marcos' reaction, Castro explained that the investigation is now in the hands of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Department of Justice (DOJ). 'If evidence shows anyone is liable, that person will undoubtedly face charges,' she stated. Roque has denied any involvement in the deepfake video, which falsely portrayed President Marcos as using illegal drugs, and dismissed blogger Pebbles Cunanan's claims made during a House tri-committee hearing as mere opinion. In a statement released on April 8, he called the proceedings 'a show' and rejected the affidavit accusing him. He also refuted assertions that he ever threatened to destabilize the government, asserting, 'The fate of President Marcos' administration rests with the Filipino people, not with me.' Roque further suggested that Cunanan's withdrawal of support for former President Rodrigo Duterte may be linked to the current targeting of pro-Duterte vloggers by the administration. Additionally, Roque alleged that the real source of the 'polvoron video' is someone close to President Marcos, noting that the video has been circulating since 2022 and criticizing the House tri-committee for following a 'ready script.'
South China Morning Post
09-04-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Plot to bring down Marcos government made in Hong Kong restaurant, whistle-blower claims
A whistle-blower has alleged that a video purporting to show Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr using illegal drugs was fabricated and spread online as part of a coordinated plot initiated at a Hong Kong restaurant, by allies of former president Rodrigo Duterte – including his former spokesman. Advertisement Vicente 'Pebbles' Cunanan, a political vlogger and social media influencer known for her ties to pro-Duterte online communities, testified before a congressional panel on Tuesday, alleging that former presidential spokesman Harry Roque played a key role in a scheme to undermine Marcos Jnr. Cunanan claimed that Roque boasted of his ability to 'bring down a government' during discussions about disseminating a doctored video intended to damage the president's credibility. Roque, identified by Cunanan in an affidavit submitted to the 'Tri-Com' inquiry – a joint investigation by three congressional committees – denied the accusations to This Week in Asia on Wednesday. Cunanan said the video – a manipulated clip supposedly showing Marcos Jnr sniffing cocaine – was first discussed during a July 2024 dinner in Hong Kong. Advertisement The event at Yung Kee Restaurant in the city's Central district was attended by 16 supporters of Duterte, including Roque, former executive secretary Vic Rodriguez, and ex-press secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles. The gathering occurred after a 'Maisug' prayer rally – a movement loosely affiliated with pro-Duterte causes.
South China Morning Post
09-04-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Plot to bring down Marcos government cooked in a Hong Kong restaurant, whistle-blower claims
A whistle-blower has alleged that a video purporting to show Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr using illegal drugs was fabricated and spread online as part of a coordinated plot initiated at a Hong Kong restaurant, by allies of former president Rodrigo Duterte – including his former spokesman. Advertisement Vicente 'Pebbles' Cunanan, a political vlogger and social media influencer known for her ties to pro-Duterte online communities, testified before a congressional panel on Tuesday, alleging that former presidential spokesman Harry Roque played a key role in a scheme to undermine Marcos Jnr. Cunanan claimed that Roque boasted of his ability to 'bring down a government' during discussions about disseminating a doctored video intended to damage the president's credibility. Roque, identified by Cunanan in an affidavit submitted to the 'Tri-Com' inquiry – a joint investigation by three congressional committees – denied the accusations to This Week in Asia on Wednesday. Cunanan said the video – a manipulated clip supposedly showing Marcos Jnr sniffing cocaine – was first discussed during a July 2024 dinner in Hong Kong. The event at Yung Kee Restaurant in the city's Central district was attended by 16 supporters of Duterte, including Roque, former Executive Secretary Vic Rodriguez, and ex-press secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles. The gathering occurred after a 'Maisug' prayer rally – a movement loosely affiliated with pro-Duterte causes. Advertisement She also submitted a photo of the dinner to the Philippine House of Representatives as evidence.
