A tough 2024 for Sara Duterte

When asked about the looming impeachment case against her in November, Vice President Sara appeared resigned to the possibility of being removed from office, given the political attacks unleashed by her former allies in Congress.

“If I get impeached, then that’s my end,” she said during a press briefing at her satellite office in Zamboanga City on November 27. While she acknowledged the impeachment threats, the Vice President dismissed the cases being prepared against her, claiming they had no merit and would be nothing more than a waste of time and taxpayer money.

But weeks later, after at least two impeachment cases were filed against her, she vowed to fight back. Her camp has been preparing for this since last year, she said, pointing to the year 2023, when her relationship with the Marcos administration began to sour.

On December 2, an impeachment case was filed by civil society groups against the Vice President. This was followed by a second impeachment rap on December 4, and a third one on December 19.

Since her departure from the Marcos Cabinet in June, the Vice President has faced relentless attacks from her critics. These critics, who dominate Congress and are allied with the Marcos administration, have launched an investigation into her alleged misuse of hefty confidential funds. Ironically, it was Congress itself that approved the fund requests in 2022, totaling P650 million for the 2023 budget — P500 million for the Office of the Vice President and P150 million for the Department of Education, which was headed by Duterte at the time.

‘Next year na… please’

At her thanksgiving lunch with the media on December 11, Duterte appeared weary being the punching bag of the Marcos administration, a situation partly of her own making. Since breaking with Marcos, she has been in full battle mode, engaging in public disputes with lawmakers. During her appearances before the Senate and the House, she focused more on attacking her critics than addressing the budget issues at hand.

“Sana naman next year na tayo magkita-kita ulit ha. Sana naman, ano, sa January na please,” Duterte quipped as she wrapped up her media press briefing following the lunch with the press.

Duterte had been holding press briefings following the detention of her chief of staff, Zuleika Lopez, in the House of Representatives. Lopez was cited for contempt due to her evasive answers and “undue interference” during the House probe into the Vice President’s alleged corruption.

Lopez was later transferred to the state-run Veterans Medical Center after suffering a panic attack after an order directing her to be moved to the women’s prison in Mandaluyong City was released. This particular incident marked another difficult moment for the Vice President, who lashed out at Marcos, First Lady Lisa Araneta-Marcos, and Speaker Martin Romualdez, even threatening them with retaliation if she were to be killed.

Duterte issued the threat, which is now under government investigation, during a midnight press briefing in November 23. Reporters, who had a front-row seat to the Vice President’s tirades, witnessed what she said and were subsequently summoned by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

The NBI is now investigating whether Duterte could be held liable under the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 (RA 11479), which, ironically, was passed during her father’s administration.

No more ‘Uniteam’

A rally in Davao City in January 2024, protesting the push for charter change, could mark a defining moment for political observers, signaling the collapse of the once formidable “Uniteam” alliance that helped Duterte and Marcos secure victory in the 2022 elections. During the rally, held in Duterte’s stronghold, her family — including former president Rodrigo Duterte — accused Marcos of using illegal drugs.

The Vice President defended her sibling, Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte, who called for the President’s resignation, explaining that it was simply an expression of “brotherly love.” She emphasized that her brother’s remarks were a response to the attacks she had been enduring from Marcos’ circles. She even assured supporters of the “Uniteam” that all was well with her and the President.

The Vice President attended a separate prayer rally in March 2024, organized by supporters of doomsday preacher Apollo Quiboloy, where participants called for the President’s resignation. At the time, Duterte was serving as the country’s caretaker while Marcos was in Europe. She took photos with Quiboloy’s supporters who were holding placards that read, “Protect VP Inday Sara.”

It was gloves off as the Vice President called Marcos “incompetent” and said he “doesn’t know how to be President.” She even claimed that the 2022 presidency would have been hers if she had not decided to give way to Marcos. Despite this, she said that her plans for 2028 remained unclear.

For any political junkie or even anyone watching from the sidelines, Duterte seems to be struggling with playing politics at the national level. Her strategy of using her father’s tough-talking style doesn’t seem to be working to her advantage. Every time she takes the microphone, Filipinos are treated to a spectacle as she speaks spontaneously without careful choice of words, often lambasting the government.

It appears that Filipinos don’t like seeing the country’s top two officials at odds with each other. Clearly, Duterte is at a disadvantage, as Marcos, the president, remains diplomatic and refrains from engaging in a word war.

Plummeting popularity

If the Duterte camp fails to come up with an effective strategy to reverse her declining popularity, 2028 is likely to be unfavorable for her.

A recent Pulse Asia survey, released before the end of the year, showed a two-digit decline in the Vice President’s approval and trust ratings. It was downhill to say the least, as she even suffered a nine-point drop in her bailiwick Mindanao, from 90% in September to 81% in November. She also took a nosedive in the Visayas, from 74% to 47%. In Luzon and Metro Manila, she scored 37% (down from 47%), and 34% (down from 37%), respectively.

Nationally, her trust rating was at 49% in November (from 61% in September), while her approval rating also plunged to 50% in November from 60% in September.

In an interview with ABS-CBN News, Pulse Asia president Ronald Holmes said their recent survey indicated that Filipinos dislike bickering politicians. He emphasized that Marcos and Duterte were supported and elected because of their “unity” platform, but that the alliance eventually fell apart.

“They were together during the election, promising unity, but now, before the midterm even arrives, they are already clashing, and their words against each other have become quite harsh, although the President remains somewhat calmer,” Holmes said in Filipino.

2025 will be the final test for the Vice President to see if she still has the political capital her father once enjoyed. A new set of lawmakers will be in Congress, where she had claimed to have been “politically persecuted.” Admittedly, however, three years to 2028 is a period long enough for political upheavals to happen and reverse dominant trends.

Marcos had earlier discouraged his allies in Congress from pursuing Duterte’s ouster. Before Congress went on break, at least three impeachment complaints were filed against her. The main issue now is whether these cases will proceed, given time constraints.

House lawmakers can expedite proceedings when they reconvene in January, but time is tight due to another break in February for the 2025 campaign period. Congress won’t resume until June, with only six session days before elections. Bringing the impeachment case to trial is another issue. Based on Rappler’s projections and senators’ allegiances, Duterte is likely to secure at least eight votes for acquittal. Will she be able to hold on to those anticipated supporters?

Impeachment is just one of the challenges the Vice President will face in 2025. In addition to the NBI probe into her threats, she is also facing a disbarment case at the Supreme Court. Furthermore, the Philippine National Police has filed complaints for direct assault, disobedience, and grave coercion against her and her security personnel.

Will 2025 be better or worse for her? – Rappler.com