As Philippines’ Duterte clan faces its gravest crisis yet, VP Sara could be ‘very dangerous’ to Marcos
Former senator Antonio Trillanes IV warned that Duterte-Carpio remains dangerous since she is constitutionally the direct successor to the president should anything happen to Marcos Jnr.
“For as long as she is VP, she’ll be very dangerous. In fact, her being VP is the only thing that is keeping the Dutertes from being politically obliterated,” he told This Week in Asia.
On Tuesday, the House of Representatives, led by Marcos Jnr’s cousin Speaker Ferdinand Romualdez Jnr, launched an investigation into Duterte’s administration. The probe, supported by a House resolution, will examine Duterte’s drug war, his links to Chinese syndicates that he allegedly favoured with online gaming contracts, and other financial “anomalies”.
Lawmakers have suggested they may summon Duterte for questioning, which could lead to his testimony being used in court, including the ICC.
The Hague-based court is investigating Duterte and police officials for his brutal drug war that human rights activists believe led to the deaths of at least 20,000 civilians.
The Duterte administration has officially placed the number of drug dealers and addicts killed at fewer than 7,000.
Should Duterte refuse to appear, he can be cited for contempt and a warrant of arrest issued against him.
Duterte-Carpio has also been dragged into the House investigation. On Tuesday, the Commission on Audit was tasked to give a detailed report on how the Office of the Vice-President has used its funds. Some lawmakers have also hinted that impeachment complaints may be filed against her.
Despite the vice-president’s previous denial of involvement in her father’s drug war while she was the mayor of Davao City, lawmakers have urged witnesses to come forward to link her to the controversial campaign.
Trillanes said, “The ICC is probably getting more evidence to pin her down.”
Duterte-Carpio’s allies have been fighting back. During a July 22 gathering in California hosted by blogger Claire Contreras, a former Marcos Jnr supporter, a video clip allegedly showing the president using cocaine was released.
The presidential palace did not respond to Binag’s disclosures. However, Melquiades Robles, a known Marcos ally and general manager of the state-owned Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, said on August 4 that he had filed a defamation suit against Contreras in California.
The Bureau of Immigration has also placed Duterte’s spokesman Harry Roque on an “Immigration Lookout Bulletin” in relation to possible links to an illegal online gaming company.
Roque is the only Philippine lawyer accredited to appear before the ICC. He told This Week in Asia earlier he was willing to defend Duterte before the ICC if he was tapped.
Duterte-Carpio herself has condemned the Marcos government for “bowing” to the ICC. A day later on August 8, she said she and the president “don’t talk any more, we don’t see each other any more”.
Duterte ally Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa on Monday urged his colleagues in a Senate privilege speech to pass a law barring the government from cooperating with the ICC.
In an apparent dig at Marcos Jnr, Duterte-Carpio’s elder brother, Congressman Paulo Duterte, filed a bill to require “random” drug testing of the president and all elected and appointed officials every six months. Those who test positive would be suspended or removed from office.
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Why the Philippines’ Duterte-Marcos alliance is disintegrating
Analysts say Duterte-Carpio’s diminished political standing may have factored into the Marcos administration’s moves against her. A recent survey by Social Weather Stations, a social research institution, revealed that her net satisfaction rating had dropped from 63 per cent in March to 44 per cent in June, the lowest since she became vice-president.
Barry Gutierrez, a former congressman and spokesman of ex-vice-president Leni Robredo, told This Week in Asia that Duterte-Carpio had been “severely hampered politically” by the removal of her confidential funds, her resignation on June 19 as Department of Education Secretary, and the “general perception that she is now on the outs with the administration”.
“She has been driven into a corner, politically, and while that definitely makes her weak, it also makes her desperate, and therefore, dangerous,” Gutierrez said.
“With time and options running out – declining survey ratings and rumours of ICC indictments and possible impeachment only add to the sense of urgency – she may start considering the only card clearly left to her and her family: succession.”