Latest news with #Duterte
GMA Network
2 hours ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Escudero: Marcos didn't order postponement of reading of impeachment raps vs VP Sara
President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. was not behind the delay of the presentation of the Articles of Impeachment by the House prosecution panel against Vice President Sara Duterte before the Senate, Senate President Francis 'Chiz' Escudero said Monday. At a press conference, Escudero explained that the decision came after the Legislative-Executive Development Council (LEDAC) meeting on Thursday, May 29, upon consultation with some senators. 'No, it did not,' the Senate President said when asked if the suspension was a directive from Marcos. 'I was not even able to tell Martin, the Speaker, about that. He found out through the letter that I sent him,' he added. Escudero also said the delay has nothing to do with his bid to continue his Senate leadership in the 20th Congress. 'I don't see the connection whatsoever. No…It has nothing to do, especially given the fact that the 20th Congress will have a totally different composition,' he said. Last week, Escudero announced that the reading of impeachment raps against Duterte would be moved from June 2 to June 11, as the Congress needs to prioritize the passage of the items in the administration's legislative agenda before the 19th Congress adjourned sine die on June 14. He said that the Senate's convening as an impeachment court may proceed also on June 11. 'June 11, ipe-present ng Kamara ang Articles of Impeachment—paguusapan, pagde-debatihan, at kung wala ay ire-refer 'yan sa committee of rules na magsisilbing senyal at hudyat para i-create ang impeachment court sa [June] 11 din,' he said. (On June 11, the House will present the Articles of Impeachment—we'll discuss it, debate about it, and after that, it will be referred to the committee of rules that will serve as a sign and signal to create the impeachment court on June 11 as well.) 'Susumpa kami, iko-convene ang impeachment court, mag-aapprove ng rules, at magi-issue ng summons. Doon magwawakas ang procedure na gagawin sa ilalim ng 19th Congress sa June 11,' he added. (We will take an oath and the impeachment court will be convened. The rules will be approved, and summons will be issued. That's when the procedure under the 19th Congress will end, on June 11.) With the postponement, Escudero explained that nobody loses nor benefit because even if the Senate convenes now as impeachment court, they still can't hold the trial in the 19th Congress due to limited time and therefore needs to be passed to the next Congress. Duterte was impeached by the House of Representatives on February 5, with over 200 lawmakers endorsing the complaint against her. She was accused of betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the constitution, graft and corruption, and other high crimes. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
4 hours ago
- Health
- GMA Network
VP Sara Duterte calls for community action vs dengue
The dengue virus is transmitted to humans by infected mosquitoes. File photo Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday called on the nation to adhere to ways to help combat the spread of dengue in the country. In light of Dengue Awareness Month this June, Duterte underscored the importance of supporting the Department of Health's (DOH) campaign against dengue—a mosquito-borne viral infection which is common in countries with tropical climates like the Philippines. 'Nakakamatay po ang sakit na dala ng lamok na may dengue na maaaring namumugad sa ating mga pamamahay at mga komunidad. Lahat tayo ay nanganganib na maging biktima ng sakit na ito,' the vice president said in a video message. (This disease caused by dengue-carrying mosquitoes that can breed in our homes and communities is deadly. We are all at risk of being victims of this disease.) 'Magkaisa po tayo sa adhikain na makontrol ang pagdami o paglaganap ng mga lamok na may dalang dengue,' she added. (Let's unite in the campaign to mitigate the spread of dengue-carrying mosquitoes.) READ: EXPLAINER: Why public should beware of dengue As part of preventive measures against the disease, Duterte encouraged the public to ensure that mosquito breeding grounds such as drums and pots are clean and free of water. She also urged participation in clean-up drives in communities. She also noted that people could prevent getting dengue by putting up window and door screens and mosquito nets, as well as wearing pants and shirts with long sleeves. In April, Health Secretary Ted Herbosa said that the Philippines may face a dengue outbreak this year. The most common symptoms of dengue include high fever, severe headache, muscle and joint pains, nausea, and rashes. Some people may also get pain behind the eyes, vomiting, and swollen glands. These symptoms, the DOH said, start four to 10 days after exposure from a mosquito bite, and can last for two to seven days. —KG, GMA Integrated News
South China Morning Post
7 hours ago
- General
- South China Morning Post
Can Rodrigo Duterte serve as Davao mayor from ICC detention?
Advertisement The post he won is no ordinary local office. It is the mayorship of Davao City, the southern Philippine metropolis that has long served as the Duterte family's political stronghold – a position he held for more than two decades before ascending to the presidency in 2016. But despite his electoral triumph, Duterte's return to Davao's city hall remains far from certain. His victory in May's midterm election has triggered a surreal legal and diplomatic conundrum in the Philippines: can a man imprisoned in an international detention facility legally assume the office of mayor? The International Criminal Court in The Hague, where Duterte is set to be tried for crimes against humanity. Photo: AP A legal impossibility? The answer to the quandary, according to legal experts, is almost certainly no.
GMA Network
18 hours ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Imee: Just accept that VP Sara impeachment has already failed
Reelected Senator Imee Marcos said that the bid to remove Vice President Sara Duterte via impeachment has already failed, amid the postponement of proceedings in the Senate. The reading at the Senate of the articles of impeachment by the House of Representatives prosecution panel against Duterte was initially scheduled for June 2, but was moved to June 11 with the 19th Congress set to adjourn sine die on June 14, with Senate President Francis 'Chiz' Escudero citing the need to prioritize the passage of items in the administration's legislative agenda. 'Para sa akin, 'yan ang importante, makatulong sa tao at tigilan na ang pangunguna ng pampulitikang impeachment na 'yan,' Marcos said in Mav Gonzales's report on GMA's '24 Oras Weekend' on Sunday. 'Pero sa kabilang inuurong nang inuurong 'yung impeachment?...Tanggapin niyo na, talo na ang impeachment. 'Yun lang 'yun. Kahit ngayon, kahit sa Hulyo pa, talo na,' she added. (For me, that is what is important, to help people and stop prioritizing this political impeachment. On the other hand, why is the impeachment being moved again and again? Just accept that the impeachment has lost. That is it. Whether now or in July, it has already lost.) Another Duterte ally, incoming Senator Rodante Marcoleta also said that the trial will not succeed in unseating her. 'Lintik lang ang walang ganti. Humanda sila. Ayaw niyong tumigil, kurbahan natin,' he said in the same report. 'They would not be able to remove the Vice President. Itaga mo sa bato 'yan, itaga niyo sa bato 'yan, walang mangyayari. The Vice President will stay as Vice President,' he added. (There will be revenge. The should prepare themselves. If you don't want to stop, let us curve them. They would not be able to remove the Vice President. Set that in stone, nothing will happen. The Vice President will stay as Vice President.) Marcos and Marcoleta will both be senator-judges at the impeachment trial. 'Forthwith' For his part, outgoing Senate Minority leader Aquilino 'Koko' Pimentel III said he is dismayed with the change in the Senate calendar. 'Nung February 2025, nagpalabas na ng impeachment calendar si SP [Senate President]. Diba dinebate natin dati 'yun na 'forthwith.' Dapat nga hindi mo na hinintay ang June 2 pero siya na ang nasunod kasi lumipas na ang panahon,' he said. (In February, SP already released a calendar. We also debated the term 'forthwith.' He should not have waited for June 2 but he was followed as time passed.) For his part, attorney and constitutional law expert Domingo Cayosa said it seems as though Senate is dribbling the impeachment. 'Even if you look at the rules of the Senate itself, malinaw naman na kapag may [it is clear that if there is an] impeachment, it takes precedence over the ordinary legislative work,' he said. 'It's not fair to the accused, it's not fair to the prosecutors, it is not fair to the Filipino people,' he added. GMA Integrated News has reached out to Escudero for comment on the matter, but he said he will release a statement on Monday, June 2. According to House Assistant Majority Leader and Tingog party-list Representative Jude Acidre, he is optimistic that the impeachment trial will still push through, if not in 19th Congress then in the 20th, as seen in the United States where the impeachment trial process of the Philippines has pas been patterned. 'Pinakilala dun si President Bill Clinton. Na-impeach sa isang Kongreso at nagkaroon ng trial sa kabilang Kongreso. Gusto ko na lang panghawakan 'yung sinabi ni Senator Jinggoy Estrada na gagampanan ng Senado ang kanilang Constitutional duty na talakayin ang impeachment,' he said in a separate report by Jonathan Andal. (Most known is that of President Bill Clinton. He was impeached in one Congress and the trial was held in another. I trust what Senator Jinggoy Estrada said that the Senate will perform its Constitutional duty to take up the impeachment.) Acidre also called Duterte's remarks—likening her impeachment trial to a crucifixion—as drama. 'Hindi kailangan ng drama dito [There is no drama needed here]. We don't even have to resort to language such as that,' he said. 'Kung naniniwala ang ating Bise Presidente at ang kaniyang mga kakampi na wala silang kasalanan, na wala silang pananagutan, harapin nila [If the Vice President and her allies believe that they are innocent, if they do not have liabilities, they should face it],' he added. Hearings earlier revealed that the OVP and the Department of Education (DepEd), also previously headed by Duterte, submitted documents with wrong dates, signatures without names of signatories, and unreadable names of signatories to justify the disbursement of its confidential funds in 2022 and 2023. A House panel in December found that there was no PSA record of 'Mary Grace Piattos,' whose signature appeared the most in acknowledgement receipts for confidential funds of office under Vice President Sara Duterte. The House panel earlier offered a P1-million reward for any information on the individual. Duterte, for her part, earlier said she has not seen the acknowledgement receipts from confidential funds supposedly signed by 'Mary Grace Piattos.' Another article of impeachment against Duterte is her stating that she had contracted a killer to assassinate erstwhile ally President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. if she is killed. — Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas/BM, GMA Integrated News
Filipino Times
19 hours ago
- Politics
- Filipino Times
Sara Duterte: I welcome impeachment trial to clear my name
Vice President Sara Duterte said that she supports moving forward with her impeachment trial, calling it an opportunity to answer allegations and clear her name. Duterte expressed agreement with a recent survey showing 88 percent of Filipinos support the continuation of impeachment proceedings against her. 'I totally agree,' she said. 'Kasama ako doon sa 88 percent na iyan… Thankful ako sa opportunity na malinis ang pangalan ko at masagot ang mga akusasyon sa akin.' (Translation: I'm one of the 88 percent. I'm thankful for the opportunity to clear my name and respond to the accusations against me.) Despite this, Duterte has a pending petition before the Supreme Court seeking to block the basis of the impeachment on constitutional grounds. The vice president is accused of misusing confidential funds and making public threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his family. Originally set for late May, the impeachment trial has been postponed to June 11 after Senate President Francis 'Chiz' Escudero delayed the convening of the Senate as an impeachment court.
