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MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte has firmly ruled out stepping down from office despite the ongoing impeachment proceedings and allegations surrounding her financial assets.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, October 13, Duterte reiterated her determination to remain in her position as the country's second-highest official.
“I will not resign, will never resign from the Office of the Vice President,” Duterte declared.
Her statement comes as the Senate impeachment court continues to examine allegations against her, particularly questions surrounding her reported wealth and financial disclosures.
The Vice President maintained her position as the impeachment trial reached its 39th day, with the prosecution having presented evidence concerning her financial records and those of her husband, lawyer Manases “Mans” Carpio.
Duterte also expressed confidence in facing public scrutiny, saying the proceedings provide an opportunity for Filipinos to examine the allegations against her.
She described the impeachment trial as a potential opportunity to address questions about her character and public record.
Duterte's latest remarks coincided with a major development in her impeachment case.
On Tuesday, the Senate impeachment court accepted the House prosecution panel's decision to withdraw three of the four Articles of Impeachment against her.
The prosecution dropped Article I involving alleged misuse of confidential funds, Article III concerning bribery, and Article IV covering alleged grave threats and related accusations.
This leaves Article II, which centers on allegations of unexplained wealth, as the sole remaining impeachment charge.
House lead prosecutor Rep. Gerville Luistro said the prosecution would concentrate on the financial evidence already presented, which the panel believes is sufficient to pursue Duterte's removal from office.
The defense opposed the withdrawal, raising concerns about its ability to respond to allegations that had already been presented before the court.
The impeachment trial is expected to move into its next phase, with Duterte's defense team scheduled to begin presenting its evidence and witnesses on November 9.
The remaining allegations concern the Vice President's Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs) and business interests examined during the proceedings.
Duterte has disputed the allegations against her, while the Senate impeachment court has yet to reach a final decision on the remaining charge.
For now, the Vice President maintains that resignation is not an option as the impeachment proceedings continue.
MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte will face trial on just one remaining Article of Impeachment after the Senate impeachment court approved the House prosecution panel's request to withdraw three of the four charges against her on Tuesday, October 13.
Presiding Officer Senator Francis Escudero accepted the prosecution's manifestation, leaving Article II, which involves allegations of unexplained wealth, as the sole basis for the continuation of Duterte's impeachment trial.
The ruling removes Articles I, III, and IV from the proceedings, covering the alleged misuse of confidential funds, bribery, and grave threats, respectively.
House lead prosecutor and Batangas 2nd District Representative Gerville Luistro informed the impeachment court that the prosecution would concentrate its case on Article II, citing the evidence already presented concerning Duterte's financial disclosures and business interests.
The remaining article involves allegations that the Vice President failed to fully disclose assets in her Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs) and did not divest from certain business interests as required under the Constitution.
Luistro expressed confidence that the evidence presented under Article II was sufficient to support the prosecution's call for Duterte's removal from office.
The prosecution also argued that narrowing the case would reduce the number of issues requiring further examination and allow the trial to proceed more efficiently.
Duterte's defense panel opposed the move, arguing that withdrawing charges after evidence and testimonies had already been presented would deprive the Vice President of an opportunity to challenge those allegations during the trial.
Lead defense counsel Atty. Sheila Sison maintained that the prosecution should not be allowed to present accusations and subsequently prevent the defense from formally responding to them.
Sison also questioned the fairness of restricting the defense's evidence to the remaining article, particularly after several witnesses had already testified on the withdrawn allegations.
Despite these objections, the impeachment court allowed the prosecution to withdraw the three articles.
Under the ruling, Articles I and IV were withdrawn with prejudice, preventing them from being pursued again in an impeachment trial against Duterte during her current term.
Article III, which covers bribery allegations, was withdrawn before the prosecution presented evidence on that charge and may be brought again in a future proceeding.
The impeachment court also lifted the sub judice restrictions covering the three withdrawn articles, allowing the parties to publicly discuss those allegations, subject to other applicable court orders.
However, the defense raised concerns that the ruling could expose Duterte to public accusations without allowing her to contest the withdrawn charges through evidence before the impeachment court.
Escudero deferred action on the defense's objection concerning the lifting of the restrictions.
Following the court's decision, the prosecution was directed to submit its formal offer of evidence for Article II by October 23.
The defense will have 10 days from receipt to file its comments and objections.
Duterte's legal team has also been given time to prepare its evidence, with the defense presentation scheduled to begin on November 9.
The impeachment court will continue hearing the case solely on Article II, while the allegations of unexplained wealth and related financial disclosure issues remain subject to the court's determination.
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has expressed concern over the reported interference of the Chinese Coast Guard in a medical evacuation involving a Philippine Navy personnel stationed aboard BRP Sierra Madre at Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.
Marcos described the incident last week as unacceptable, questioning why Chinese personnel would attempt to prevent Philippine forces from evacuating a sick serviceman who needed medical attention.
The President emphasized that humanitarian missions should not be obstructed, pointing out that even during armed conflicts, organizations such as the Red Cross are allowed to carry out their duties.
Despite the reported interference, Philippine personnel successfully completed the medical evacuation, earning praise from Marcos for their courage, determination, and ability to navigate the situation.
Marcos said the incident could be included in ongoing discussions between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China concerning the proposed Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea.
While the President acknowledged that he had not initially considered its possible implications for the negotiations, he said the incident highlighted the escalating tensions in the disputed waters.
He also pointed out that Philippine operations previously carried out without difficulty are now being subjected to additional requirements imposed by China.
According to Marcos, Chinese personnel have increasingly demanded permission for certain activities, further complicating the Philippines' operations in the area.
The proposed Code of Conduct aims to establish guidelines for the conduct of countries operating in the South China Sea and help prevent incidents that could escalate into broader confrontations.
The President reiterated that the Philippines does not need to seek China's permission when conducting operations within areas where it exercises its rights.
Marcos questioned China's attempts to dictate what Philippine personnel could or could not do, stressing that the government would not comply with such demands.
He maintained that the Philippines would continue exercising its rights in the West Philippine Sea despite the restrictions being asserted by Chinese forces.
Amid continuing tensions, Marcos also recognized the assistance being extended by several partner countries to help the Philippines address challenges in the West Philippine Sea.
He said international partners have been providing support in various ways as the country continues to deal with incidents involving Chinese vessels.
The President maintained that the Philippines would continue defending its rights while pursuing diplomatic discussions aimed at managing tensions in the region.
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine government is seriously considering nuclear power as a future energy source to support the country's growing digital economy, particularly the expansion of artificial intelligence (AI), data centers, and industries involving critical minerals.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the Philippines must prepare for a significant increase in electricity consumption as emerging technologies and digital infrastructure continue to develop.
During a media interview in Singapore on Sunday, October 11, Marcos acknowledged that the country's current power generation remains sufficient but warned that future demand would require additional energy capacity.
The President emphasized that securing an adequate electricity supply would be essential for the Philippines to attract investments and participate in global industries driven by AI and other advanced technologies.
Marcos identified nuclear energy as one of the options available to the Philippines, citing continuing technological advancements in the industry.
He said the government is looking at ways to increase electricity generation to accommodate the expected growth of data centers and AI-related industries.
Such facilities require substantial amounts of electricity to operate the computing systems and infrastructure that support digital services.
The President also underscored the importance of developing the country's capacity to participate in value chains for critical minerals and other emerging industries.
For Marcos, ensuring sufficient power generation would be a key factor in strengthening the Philippines' competitiveness in the digital economy.
Apart from nuclear power, Marcos stressed the need to explore other energy sources as the continuing conflict in the Middle East raises concerns over the country's dependence on imported fuel.
The President noted that the Philippines remains vulnerable to disruptions in global energy supplies, making diversification an important consideration in long-term energy planning.
He said the country must evaluate available options to strengthen its energy capacity while preparing for the growing requirements of new industries.
The President's remarks followed his visit to the Singapore Nuclear Research and Safety Institute on Saturday, October 10, where he learned about the country's experience and research capabilities in nuclear technology and safety.
During the visit, Marcos expressed regret that the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant, built during the administration of his father, former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., never became operational.
The facility remains unused for commercial electricity generation.
Marcos' visit to the Singapore institute forms part of the government's continuing examination of nuclear technology as a possible component of the Philippines' future energy supply.
The President maintained that while the Philippines currently has sufficient electricity generation, expanding its power resources will become increasingly important as demand from AI, data centers, and the digital economy grows.
MANILA, Philippines — Lawyer Manases “Mans” Carpio, husband of Vice President Sara Duterte, said he feels unfairly dragged into the ongoing impeachment proceedings against his wife, describing himself as “collateral damage” amid scrutiny of their financial records and business interests.
Carpio made the remarks during the launch of the 1Bukidnon 4 Sara Duterte Movement in Valencia City, Bukidnon, on Thursday, October 8.
The gathering was attended by supporters and organizers, including former Valencia City Vice Mayor Atty. Ted Pepito and Bukidnon 4th District Board Member RJ Pepito.
Speaking before attendees, Carpio expressed frustration over his involvement in the controversy, saying he felt as though he were the one facing impeachment.
“Pati ako gidamay. Pastilan. Murag ako man gi-impeach da. Wa silay makita kang Sara ba, so mura'g collateral damage ko,” Carpio said.
[“They’ve dragged me into this, too. Goodness! It’s as if I’m the one being impeached. They can’t find anything against Sara, so it seems I’ve become collateral damage,”]
He claimed that he was being unfairly targeted despite not being the official facing impeachment proceedings.
Nevertheless, Carpio expressed confidence that his family would overcome the challenges surrounding the trial, saying they continued to rely on prayer amid the controversy.
His remarks came as the Senate impeachment court examined financial documents and transactions involving the Vice President and her husband as part of the prosecution's allegations of unexplained wealth.
House lead prosecutor and Batangas 2nd District Representative Gerville Luistro defended the presentation of Carpio's business interests and financial activities during the impeachment proceedings.
Luistro explained that under the Philippines' property laws, married couples who did not enter into a prenuptial agreement specifying a different property regime are generally governed by the absolute community of property system, subject to applicable legal exceptions.
Under this arrangement, property acquired and owned by spouses may form part of their community property, making their financial interests relevant when examining asset declarations.
The lawmaker emphasized that the financial affairs of Duterte and Carpio are therefore connected when determining the accuracy and completeness of the Vice President's Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs).
Luistro said this was the reason the prosecution included Carpio's business interests in the evidence presented before the Senate impeachment court.
The prosecution has been examining financial records involving the couple to support allegations under the impeachment complaint concerning Duterte's reported wealth and financial disclosures.
Carpio's statements and the prosecution's explanation come as the impeachment proceedings continue, with the Senate tasked with evaluating the evidence and determining the merits of the allegations against the Vice President.
