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Filipino Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- Filipino Times
VP Duterte: Senators shouldn't inhibit from impeachment trial based solely on political bias
Vice President Sara Duterte rejected calls for certain senators to recuse themselves from her impeachment trial, arguing that political bias alone should not be grounds for inhibition. Speaking at a press conference in Davao City, Duterte responded to growing clamor for her Senate allies—including Senators Ronald 'Bato' dela Rosa, Imee Marcos, and Robin Padilla—to inhibit themselves from serving as senator-judges in the trial. She countered that if political alignment is to be used as a standard, then even her critics, such as Senator Risa Hontiveros, should also be disqualified. 'We cannot inhibit senator-judges based on bias, because the only position they have is either being for or against Inday Sara,' she said in Filipino. 'If that's the standard, then we should also call for the inhibition of senators who have shown bias against me—like Senator Risa Hontiveros, who publicly said that the Duterte family must be destroyed.' Duterte urged the public to trust that all senator-judges, regardless of political stance, will perform their duties fairly. 'If we start disqualifying senators based on perceived bias, we'll end up inhibiting most of them. That's why I say we should give them the benefit of the doubt and trust them to carry out their responsibilities according to the oath they took,' she added. The House of Representatives impeached Duterte on February 5, with over 200 lawmakers supporting the complaint. The articles of impeachment were sent to the Senate the same day, though the upper chamber adjourned without addressing the case. Duterte faces accusations including betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, and other high crimes. Last week, the Senate, acting as an impeachment court, voted 18-5 to return the case to the House without dismissing it.
Tatler Asia
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Tatler Asia
7 rainy day activities for the city girl
Crocheting Above A fun and engaging activity for the rainy season: crocheting (Photo: Pexels / Castorly Stock) Beyond its artistic appeal, crocheting offers several mental health benefits. The repetitive motions involved can be meditative, helping to reduce stress and anxiety while boosting focus and mindfulness. Shops that sell materials include Shine Pick N Shop Manila, The Craft Central in Greenbelt 5 and more. More from Tatler : Fading traditions: These endangered crafts in Asia are on the brink of extinction Catch up on your 'To-Read' list Above Tatler March 2025 cover Senator Risa Hontiveros holding a book (Photo: Tatler Philippines archives / Mark Nicdao) Catching up on your 'To-Read' list is one of the most rewarding ways to spend a rainy day. Whether you have a stack of novels, non-fiction books or magazines waiting on your nightstand, diving into a good read offers a much-needed escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. Related: Reading list for bibliophiles: 10 page-turning books about books Attend the Fête de la Musique 2025 indoor stages Above The dates and events to watch out for (Photo: Fête de la Musique) This year, the Fête de la Musique Philippines, presented by the Alliance Française de Manille, boasts its 'biggest' celebration yet. The theme Un Monde highlights the festival's commitment to fostering international camaraderie and understanding through music. Indoor stages include Long Bar in Raffles Makati (June 20), Makati pocket stages (June 27) and Edsa Shangri-la (June 13). Read more: What to expect at Fête de la Musique 2025 Join a make-your-zine workshop Joining a make-your-zine workshop is a fantastic way to channel your creativity and express your unique voice, especially on a cosy rainy day. Zines—self-published, small-circulation booklets or magazines—have a rich history rooted in DIY culture and artistic freedom. Attend the Virgin Labfest 2025 Above Virgin Labfest 2025 official poster (Photo: Cultural Center of the Philippines) The Virgin Labfest (VLF) returns for its 20th year, featuring 12 new scripts ripe for discovery. Under the theme Hinog (ripe), this festival of untried, untested and unstaged one-act plays showcases fresh stories that celebrate diversity and challenge perspectives. Beyond highlighting both emerging and veteran playwrights, VLFXX: Hinog continues its long-standing tradition of nurturing theatrical wisdom through its educational programs. These include Staged Readings, Theatre Talks, the Playwrights' Fair, the Dramaturgy Fellowship Exhibit and the Writing Fellowship Program and Showcase. From June 11 to June 29, VLFXX: Hinog performances are scheduled for 2 pm matinees and 8 pm gala shows, with educational activities taking place at 5 pm. Journaling Above Let journaling be part of your rainy season activities (Photo: Pexels / Alina Vilchenko) Journaling is a simple yet powerful practice that can transform your rainy day into a time of self-reflection and creativity. Putting pen to paper allows you to process your thoughts, set goals or simply document your daily experiences. NOW READ Holiday hobbies to try this season: Pottery, rage painting, and more The Bouldering Hive to Climb Central: 4 indoor climbing spots in Manila you don't want to miss 7 fun activities and games for your intimate New Year's Eve parties Credits This article was created with the assistance of AI tools
Associated Press
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Philippine senators send impeachment case against VP Sara Duterte to lower chamber
MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Philippine senators set themselves as an impeachment court Tuesday for the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte over corruption and other criminal allegations, but voted to send the raft of complaints back to the lower House of Representatives due to legal questions. Dozens of activists protesting outside the Senate condemned Senate President Chiz Escudero and 17 other senators for voting to send back the impeachment complaint to the House instead of immediately bringing Duterte to trial. Five senators rejected the move. The Senate action will delay the start of Duterte's impeachment trial but it's unclear what other impact it would have on her case. 'There is no `remand' or `return' in the constitution,' said Sen. Risa Hontiveros, who has demanded an immediate trial of the vice president. 'Our obligation is to try and decide.' Escudero said the move did not mean that the impeachment complaint was being dismissed and underscored that point by issuing summons for Duterte to appear before the impeachment court when the trial proceeds. Duterte was impeached by the House in February on a range of accusations that include plotting to assassinate President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and large-scale corruption. Many legislators who backed Duterte's impeachment were political allies of Marcos and her impeachment deepened a bitter political rift between the two highest leaders of one of Asia's most rambunctious democracies. The vice president's supporters have said the legislators violated the constitution and congressional rules to force her impeachment and prevent her from running in presidential elections in 2028, when Marcos' six-year term ends. Duterte, 47, is the daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte who was arrested in March and flown to The Netherlands to face charges of crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court. The Hague-based court had ordered the former president's arrest through Interpol, the global police organization, after accusing him of committing a crime against humanity over deadly anti-drug crackdowns he oversaw while in office.
Japan Times
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Japan Times
Philippines' Sara Duterte questions impeachment trial under new congress
Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte has questioned whether her impeachment trial on charges that include a suspected plot to assassinate President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. can go forward when a new set of lawmakers takes office next month. Duterte said in a video of a doorstep interview Tuesday that procedural issues may arise for her trial in the Senate due to the current body adjourning next week. If the trial does go ahead in July, Duterte would face public scrutiny over her actions related to the impeachment charges, although her allies' strong performance in a May midterm election has bolstered her chances of acquittal. On Wednesday, Sen. Ronald Dela Rosa, a Duterte ally, said he drafted a resolution to dismiss the impeachment against the vice president that he hopes to file in the coming days, according to an ABS-CBN News report. Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino earlier this week also called for a dismissal, saying the current Congress can't pass on its business to the next one. "If we cannot conclude the trial before June 30, 2025, we must recognize this impeachment case is functionally dismissed,' said Tolentino, who lost a bid for reelection last month. Other lawmakers, including opposition Sen. Risa Hontiveros, have said, however, the impeachment trial can carry over to the next Congress. Marcos' press officer Claire Castro said at a briefing on Wednesday that the president will not meddle with the impeachment process. Duterte was impeached by the House of Representatives in February on seven charges that include graft, sedition and "plotting to murder or assassinate the incumbent president, the first lady, and speaker of the House of Representatives,' according to the official complaint. Duterte has denied the accusations. Marcos and Duterte ran on a successful presidential ticket in 2022, before falling out over several policy differences including a proposal to change the constitution that Duterte's camp saw as a ploy to keep Marcos in office beyond his single, six-year term. Relations reached a nadir this year after Marcos allowed the arrest of her father, ex-President Rodrigo Duterte, who awaits trial at the International Criminal Court for alleged crimes against humanity during his deadly drug war. Sara Duterte made her comments from the Netherlands, where she went to visit her father. Duterte delivers a statement following her impeachment by the lower house of Congress, in her office at Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila, on Feb. 7. | REUTERS
GMA Network
04-06-2025
- General
- GMA Network
Senate OKs anti-POGO bill on second reading
The Senate approved on second reading a bill banning Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) in the country. Senate Bill 2868 or the Anti-POGO Bill, declared offshore gaming operations in the Philippines as unlawful. 'I look forward na ma adopt na ito ng Senado yung batas po at yung committee report, I really felt na ito ay one-two power punch against POGO,' said Senator Risa Hontiveros, chair of the Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality. Among the amendments in the measure are the Bureau of Immigration's mandate to deport foreign nationals directly back to their country. Meanwhile, maximum penalties were imposed on government officials found engaging in POGO-related activities. In 2024, authorities discovered some POGO hubs engaging in human trafficking and physical and sexual abuse. This includes POGO hubs in Bambam, Tarlac and Porac, Pampanga. This led to the arrest of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo, also identified as Guo Hua Ping, Guo, for alleged involvement in the illegal activities of a POGO hub in her town. —Mariel Celine Serquiña/LDF, GMA Integrated News
