Context Dispatch

Vice President Sara Duterte appeared composed and unshaken as she addressed the media on Friday regarding her impeachment and the looming Senate trial. She revealed that her legal team had been preparing for this moment since November, amid the House of Representatives' investigation into her alleged misuse of funds from both the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education—a portfolio she held until her resignation in June of last year. When asked about the gravity of the impeachment trial—where conviction would not only remove her from office but also bar her from future public service—Duterte casually quipped, "Mas masakit pa ang iwanan ng boyfriend kaysa ma-impeach ng House of Representatives. (It hurts more to be dumped by a boyfriend than be impeached by the House of Representatives.)”

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Thursday the Senate now holds the responsibility of deciding how to proceed with the impeachment trial of Vice President...

House of Representatives’ members, especially those backing the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte, acknowledged their action will become a key election issue. They believe the May polls will serve as a referendum on their stance against the VP. Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong admitted the political fallout, especially as a Mindanao representative, but emphasized that public service takes precedence over politics. “This is a value judgment call,” he said. 1-Rider Partylist Rep. Rodge Gutierrez stressed lawmakers' constitutional duty to pursue impeachment, regardless of popularity. Iloilo Rep. Lorenz Defensor vowed to educate his constituents on the need to impeach the VP.

With an overwhelming majority, members of the House of Representatives impeached Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday. A total of 215 lawmakers—two-thirds of the...

The Department of Agriculture has decided to price the National Food Authority rice stocks it will sell to the public under the declared food security emergency at P35 a kilo. NFA said it plans to release 150,000 metric tons over six months if the emergency persists that long. The National Price Coordinating Council resolution that urged the DA to declare the food security emergency envisages rice price to approximate the July 2023 level, which was P45 a kilo for well-milled rice.