Sara Duterte impeachment likely before polls: analyst

David Dizon

ABS-CBN News

<p>A political analyst believes any move to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte would likely push through before the 2025 elections amid a drop in her satisfaction ratings and the erosion of her political base.</p><p>Speaking to TeleRadyo Serbisyo, political analyst Ronald Llamas said rumors of a possible impeachment complaint against Duterte started last year and have only gotten louder after the Vice President resigned from the Marcos Cabinet.</p><p>“From my vantage point, when there is smoke, there is fire. Ako, may probability na talagang may umuugong at hindi lang umuugong, gumagana ang impeachment na ito…’Yang unity matagal nang nasunog ‘yan, abo na ang natira,” he said.</p><p>The Vice President earlier said she has received information that Commission on Audit records of her office will be subpoenaed before the audit is even final. She added that an ongoing probe by the House Quad committee is also part of moves to condemn the Duterte family and aid in the impeachment.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/8/20/-que-sera-sera-vp-sara-duterte-says-ready-for-whatever-will-happen-1848">&#x27;Que sera sera&#x27;: VP Sara Duterte says ready for whatever will happen</a></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-Nc5ToP0Ric?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>Members of the House majority, however, have denied there are plans to impeach Duterte.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/8/21/no-talk-of-impeachment-at-house-members-say-1905">No talk of impeachment at House, members say</a></div><p>In the interview, Llamas said the House supermajority shows there are enough numbers for the Lower House to impeach Duterte. </p><p>The number of senators who would likely defend the Vice President is also shrinking he said, with many senators now siding with the administration.</p><p>“Halimbawa, ‘yung Nacionalista Party na dati kritikal sa gobyerno at sumuporta pa kay Quiboloy ‘yung mag-ina na Villar, at ‘yung Cayetano na dating independent minority ay sumama na rin sa administrasyon. Si Francis Tolentino umalis na sa PDP. Kahit sa Senado, kung sakali magkakaroon ng impeachment, mukhang kakayanin. Ang labanan dito ay oras,” he said.</p><p>Llamas said the exodus of former members of the ruling party PDP could also be seen as an erosion of the Vice President’s political base.</p><p>“Na erode na ang political base. Halos naubos na ang mga miyembro ng PDP na dating ruling party at ‘yung Hugpong ng Pagbabago ni Vice President Sara,” he said.</p><p>Drops in Duterte’s satisfaction ratings by several pollsters also favor impeachment, he said.</p><p>The heated exchange between Duterte and Sen. Risa Hontiveros during the latest budget hearing was also a blow against the Vice President as it showed many of the Vice-President’s flagship programs are duplications of existing programs of various line agencies, Llamas said.</p><div><ivs-player data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-vid="3066456"></ivs-player> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script></div><p>He said the Vice-President’s request that her children’s book be distributed nationwide using taxpayers’ money could also be seen as a political move.</p><p>“‘Yung latest na banatan nila with Sen. Risa Hontiveros, tingin ko siya ‘yun tinamaan dun,” he said.</p><p>“Itong librong ito na linaunch nung November 2023 isinama sa budget, ang sagot kaagad niya e pino-politicize. Pag binasa mo ‘yung libro, ‘yun pala ‘yung pinopoliticize. Tungkol sa kanya ‘yun e. Kaibigan, tunay na kaibigan, tapos sa dulo siya pala ‘yun,” he added.</p><div><ivs-player data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-vid="3066530"></ivs-player> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script></div><p>Llamas said the timing of the impeachment is crucial as senators who are potential candidates prepare for the 2025 midterm elections.</p><p>A lengthy impeachment process, he noted, means senators would find a soapbox in order to be heard and be known by voters.</p><p>Incumbent senators or those allied with the administration, however, could speed up the process before Congress goes on recess  before the filing of certificates of candidacy.</p><p>“Kung mangyayari İto after the midterm elections, magiging mas mahirap…Kung hindi nila ituloy ‘yan, baka after ng election at number 1 pa rin si Sara, baka sila naman ang balikan,” he noted.</p><p>Llamas said one complication that could be stopping the impeachment is the lack of a go-signal from Malacanang.</p><p>“Ang tingin ko ang Presidente ay hindi pa talaga nakakapagpasya. Ang Presidente ay hindi palaaway. Ang Presidente ay conflict-averse pero ‘yung mga tao niya, mga tao sa paligid niya, mga key people, tingin ko ang direction ay i-impeach si Sara. ‘Yun ‘yung logical conclusion sa mga away na ito,” he said. </p>

<p>A political analyst believes any move to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte would likely push through before the 2025 elections amid a drop in her satisfaction ratings and the erosion of her political base.</p>

A political analyst believes any move to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte would likely push through before the 2025 elections amid a drop in her satisfaction ratings and the erosion of her political base.

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Sara Duterte impeachment likely before polls: analyst

Sara Duterte impeachment likely before polls: analyst

David Dizon,

ABS-CBN News

Published Aug 23, 2024 01:31 PM PHT

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