https://www.scmp.com/rss/523150/feed The latest news and top stories on Sara Duterte-Carpio, the Vice President of the Philippines since June 2022, the youngest in the nation’s history. She previously served as Secretary of Education until July 2024, and multiple terms as Mayor and Vice Mayor of Davao City. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Raissa Robles Raissa Robles As impeachment looms, Philippine Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio and her spouse are firing back at allegations of ill-gotten wealth, with the couple’s combative responses seen as damage control over what critics say will be “smoking gun” evidence to be presented to the Senate. A handful of lawmakers are expecting the House of Representatives to submit Articles of Impeachment against Duterte-Carpio to the Senate soon. “I think she will be impeached by the first week of May. My guess is 160 to... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3351660/philippines-sara-duterte-hits-back-against-wealth-allegations-impeachment-looms?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3351660/philippines-sara-duterte-hits-back-against-wealth-allegations-impeachment-looms?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Apr 2026 05:54:12 +0000 Sam Beltran Sam Beltran Former Philippine vice-president Leni Robredo’s refusal to seek national office in 2028 has intensified the search for someone to unite the country’s fractured opposition against an early presidential bid by Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio. Robredo, President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr’s strongest rival in the 2022 election and long seen as the opposition’s most recognisable figure, said she would not run for any state position when Marcos’ six-year term ends. Her decision shifts attention to a... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3351307/can-philippine-opposition-find-saviour-after-robredo-declines-2028-presidential-run?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3351307/can-philippine-opposition-find-saviour-after-robredo-declines-2028-presidential-run?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Apr 2026 10:00:34 +0000 Raissa Robles Raissa Robles Families of victims of former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs hailed as a “vindication” on Wednesday the International Criminal Court Appeals Chamber’s refusal to throw out the crimes against humanity case against him. Duterte has been held by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague since March 2025 over killings linked to his anti-drugs campaign while he was in office. His lawyers argued that the court had no authority to try him because the Philippines... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3351050/icc-chamber-rules-case-against-rodrigo-dutertes-war-drugs-killings-proceed?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3351050/icc-chamber-rules-case-against-rodrigo-dutertes-war-drugs-killings-proceed?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 14:37:40 +0000 Alan Robles Alan Robles Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio came under fresh pressure on Wednesday after Philippine lawmakers examining complaints that could lead to her impeachment were shown evidence of bank transactions far larger than the wealth she and her husband had publicly declared. At a House hearing, the Philippines’ anti-money-laundering watchdog said the couple’s bank records from 2006 to 2024 showed 4.4 billion pesos (US$73.2 million) in inflows and 1.5 billion pesos in outflows, despite a declared net... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3351047/philippine-lawmakers-examine-gap-sara-dutertes-bank-statements-declared-wealth?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3351047/philippine-lawmakers-examine-gap-sara-dutertes-bank-statements-declared-wealth?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 13:38:58 +0000 Alan Robles Alan Robles Former Philippine leader Rodrigo Duterte discussed removing President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr from office and even considered assassination if a supposed power-sharing deal fell apart, a jailed witness told a House impeachment hearing into Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio. Ramil Madriaga, a self-described political organiser, intelligence operative and bagman who said he had once been close to Duterte-Carpio, made the sensational allegations before the House Committee on Justice on Tuesday during... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3350091/jailed-witness-reveals-duterte-plotted-oust-philippines-marcos?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3350091/jailed-witness-reveals-duterte-plotted-oust-philippines-marcos?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Apr 2026 01:30:15 +0000 Sam Beltran Sam Beltran Her father is in custody at The Hague, her alliance with President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr has collapsed into bitter rivalry and she is fighting to halt impeachment proceedings before the Supreme Court. Despite all of that, Philippine Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio is still, by a distance, the early favourite to be the country’s next president. A new survey by Manila-based pollster WR Numero found 36 per cent of Filipinos would vote for Duterte-Carpio if the 2028 election were held today – a... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3349553/sara-duterte-leads-early-2028-philippine-presidential-poll-rivals-struggle-unite?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3349553/sara-duterte-leads-early-2028-philippine-presidential-poll-rivals-struggle-unite?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Apr 2026 04:00:13 +0000 Sam Beltran Sam Beltran Growing disinformation in the Philippines and distrust in authorities could have led to a sharp drop in public support, particularly among Gen Z Filipinos, for the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) proceedings against former president Rodrigo Duterte and his deadly war on drugs. Only 32 per cent of Filipino respondents of different age groups approved the ICC’s move to prosecute Duterte in April last year, a month after he was arrested and flown to The Hague, according to a survey by WR... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3347184/gen-z-filipinos-lead-collapse-support-duterte-icc-case?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3347184/gen-z-filipinos-lead-collapse-support-duterte-icc-case?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Mar 2026 10:30:30 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg The Philippines is looking at ways to save on energy as tensions in the Middle East push global fuel costs higher, with the government suggesting people use their air conditioners less and shy away from non-essential travel. The Southeast Asian nation imports nearly all of its oil requirements and the war in Iran could spur inflation that already hit a 13-month high in February. President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr’s administration this week ordered government offices to set their air conditioners to... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3345681/philippines-battles-us-iran-war-fuel-crisis-air-con-limits-flexible-work-plan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3345681/philippines-battles-us-iran-war-fuel-crisis-air-con-limits-flexible-work-plan?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Mar 2026 05:43:24 +0000 Raissa Robles Raissa Robles Philippine lawmakers have moved two impeachment complaints against Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio a step closer to formal proceedings, advancing a case that could ultimately threaten her political future as a potential contender for the presidency in 2028. The drawn-out process also carries political risks for both camps, with some lawmakers arguing that a failed Senate conviction could ultimately strengthen Duterte-Carpio ahead of the 2028 race. The House of Representatives’ justice... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3345604/philippines-advances-sara-duterte-impeachment-case-not-cakewalk?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3345604/philippines-advances-sara-duterte-impeachment-case-not-cakewalk?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Mar 2026 12:25:50 +0000 Sam Beltran Sam Beltran A Philippine lawmaker has provoked outrage for what critics said were misogynistic remarks about one of the country’s most famous celebrities while attempting to defend Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio at a hearing deliberating her impeachment charges. The remarks, made during deliberations of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Justice on Tuesday, prompted objections from female lawmakers, calls for his statement to be removed from the record and warnings from officials that such... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3345431/outrage-philippines-over-lawmakers-sexist-remarks-defence-vp-sara-duterte?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3345431/outrage-philippines-over-lawmakers-sexist-remarks-defence-vp-sara-duterte?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Mar 2026 10:31:08 +0000 Reuters Reuters Philippine lawmakers ordered Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio on Wednesday to respond to impeachment complaints against her after finding substance to allegations involving unexplained wealth, the misuse of public funds and making public threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr. The daughter of former president Rodrigo Duterte is seen as a front runner for the 2028 presidential election, and has said she will run for the top post. She survived a similar impeachment bid last year, which... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3345384/philippines-duterte-carpio-ordered-answer-impeachment-charges-over-wealth-threats?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3345384/philippines-duterte-carpio-ordered-answer-impeachment-charges-over-wealth-threats?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Mar 2026 07:26:38 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Mary Ann Pajo watched quietly as cemetery workers opened her son’s tomb in Manila this week and removed his body for examination by a forensic pathologist. Accused of dealing drugs, 30-year-old Joewarski Pajo was shot dead while playing a game on his phone, one of thousands of extrajudicial killings alleged to have taken place under former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte. A hearing begins at the International Criminal Court on Monday that will determine whether Duterte will stand trial over... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3344173/families-philippine-drug-war-victims-seek-icc-justice-duterte-trial-looms?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3344173/families-philippine-drug-war-victims-seek-icc-justice-duterte-trial-looms?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Feb 2026 13:11:47 +0000 Sam Beltran,Agence France-Presse Sam Beltran,Agence France-Presse Philippine Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio announced on Wednesday that she will run for president in 2028, formally declaring a bid long widely expected as her political camp confronts mounting legal and institutional pressure. “I offer my life, my strength and my future in the service of our nation,” she said in announcing her candidacy. “I am Sara Duterte. I will run for president of the Philippines.” The daughter of former president Rodrigo Duterte used her brief speech to accuse President... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3343866/philippines-sara-duterte-throws-hat-ring-2028-presidential-run?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3343866/philippines-sara-duterte-throws-hat-ring-2028-presidential-run?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Feb 2026 03:37:20 +0000 Raissa Robles Raissa Robles Dual impeachment cases were filed on Monday against Philippine Vice-President Sara Duterte, marking a historic first with the nation’s top two officials each facing twin complaints accusing them of betrayal of public trust. Observers told This Week in Asia that the political exercise, while risking economic collateral damage, could show how a political crisis could be tackled through “institutionalisation” using constitutional means, instead of military intervention. Former congressman Neri... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3342147/philippines-faces-historic-dual-impeachments-marcos-duterte-political-crisis-deepens?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3342147/philippines-faces-historic-dual-impeachments-marcos-duterte-political-crisis-deepens?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Feb 2026 14:54:57 +0000 Raissa Robles Raissa Robles For the Philippines, 2026 promises to be a roller-coaster ride of political intrigue as President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr and his deputy lock horns in an existential clash that risks tanking the economy, dividing military loyalties and derailing Asean’s regional diplomacy. “It will be a very messy year both in politics and the economy,” Philippine Congressman Edgar Erice told This Week in Asia. A showdown now seems all but inevitable: Vice-President Sara Duterte enters 2026 with an approval rating... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3340193/philippines-enters-its-hour-danger-marcos-duterte-clash?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3340193/philippines-enters-its-hour-danger-marcos-duterte-clash?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 17 Jan 2026 00:00:14 +0000 Alan Robles,Raissa Robles Alan Robles,Raissa Robles A Philippine army colonel relieved for his anti-Marcos stance has “voluntarily” returned to his unit and will face charges and psychiatric evaluation, according to his superior. Audie Mongao was on Friday discharged from command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Training Support Group after he publicly withdrew support for President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr in a social media post, saying “it’s too much, enough already”. Army spokesman Louie Dema-ala said Mongao was “put into attached/unassigned... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3339488/philippine-army-colonel-faces-charges-after-anti-marcos-post-goes-viral-amid-coup-concerns?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3339488/philippine-army-colonel-faces-charges-after-anti-marcos-post-goes-viral-amid-coup-concerns?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 12 Jan 2026 00:00:14 +0000 Raissa Robles Raissa Robles The Philippine military has opted to keep Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio in charge of an army reserve command despite her incendiary public remarks, even as it recently expelled a pro-Duterte lawmaker from the reserve force for politicised conduct. Military officers and defence observers said the contrasting treatment underscores how power, political risk and legal grey zones shape how the Armed Forces of the Philippines disciplines its reservists, as the rift between the president and his... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3339179/uniform-justice-why-philippine-military-expelled-lawmaker-not-vp-sara-duterte?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3339179/uniform-justice-why-philippine-military-expelled-lawmaker-not-vp-sara-duterte?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Jan 2026 09:30:09 +0000 Sam Beltran Sam Beltran As the Philippines wraps up a tumultuous year punctuated by colourful barbs thrown across warring political houses, an ongoing corruption scandal surrounding flood control projects threatens to derail President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr’s administration. Externally, Manila has been embroiled all year in a long-standing territorial row with Beijing in the South China Sea that shows no signs of waning, while also gearing up for the hot seat as next year’s chair of the Association of Southeast Asian... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3337692/philippines-2025-year-crisis-corruption-scandal-south-china-sea-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3337692/philippines-2025-year-crisis-corruption-scandal-south-china-sea-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 28 Dec 2025 08:00:10 +0000 Raissa Robles Raissa Robles A plunder complaint filed against Philippine Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio has reopened scrutiny of her use of “confidential funds” and opened a new legal front in a political stand-off that could shape the early dynamics of the 2028 presidential race. A highly placed source, who told This Week in Asia about the complaint a week before it was filed, said the move was intended to blunt Duterte-Carpio’s prospects in the 2028 presidential election by tying her down in a prolonged... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3336367/plunder-complaint-against-philippine-vp-sara-duterte-attempt-blunt-her-2028-bid?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3336367/plunder-complaint-against-philippine-vp-sara-duterte-attempt-blunt-her-2028-bid?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 14 Dec 2025 09:30:09 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg A group of civilians including two former government officials, filed a corruption complaint against Philippine Vice-President Sara Duterte, in a fresh political challenge for the estranged deputy of President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr. The complaint, filed with the Ombudsman’s office on Friday, alleged that Duterte and 15 other officials, misused 612.5 million pesos (US$10.4 million) in public funds through “coordinated schemes” implemented across both the Office of the Vice-President and the... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3336233/philippines-vice-president-duterte-faces-new-corruption-charges-sparking-political-storm?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3336233/philippines-vice-president-duterte-faces-new-corruption-charges-sparking-political-storm?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 12 Dec 2025 09:30:22 +0000 Sam Beltran Sam Beltran Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr is facing his lowest ratings yet since taking office in 2022, a trend observers warn could be a signal that his efforts to quell the spiralling corruption scandal around the country’s flood control projects are backfiring. Marcos’ satisfaction ratings fell to 21 per cent in November – a drop of 14 percentage points from August, and his steepest decline since February this year, according to findings released by independent public opinion firm WR Numero... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3335633/filipinos-losing-patience-marcos-anti-corruption-drive-presidents-ratings-tank?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3335633/filipinos-losing-patience-marcos-anti-corruption-drive-presidents-ratings-tank?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 08 Dec 2025 10:56:58 +0000 Raissa Robles Raissa Robles Allegations that a small group of retired generals is trying to push the Philippines military to abandon President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr have intensified concerns about how susceptible the armed forces are to political pressure and extra-constitutional manoeuvres. Observers told This Week in Asia the retired officers appear to be drawing inspiration from the 2001 “EDSA Dos” uprising – when mass protests and a unified military command helped force President Joseph Estrada from office – but argued... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3335346/philippines-vulnerable-another-military-triggered-political-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3335346/philippines-vulnerable-another-military-triggered-political-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Dec 2025 10:00:14 +0000 Raissa Robles Raissa Robles The International Criminal Court’s ruling that Rodrigo Duterte is too politically connected to be trusted on interim release – citing his entrenched networks and even a “joke” from his daughter about breaking him out – has entwined the former president’s legal predicament with the political dynamics shaping the 2028 race. Analysts told This Week in Asia that the decision has narrowed the 80-year-old’s room for political manoeuvre while potentially strengthening, under some circumstances, the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3334797/iccs-denial-dutertes-release-raises-philippines-political-stakes-ahead-2028-race?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3334797/iccs-denial-dutertes-release-raises-philippines-political-stakes-ahead-2028-race?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Dec 2025 11:48:45 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Senator Imee Marcos, the estranged sister of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr, said there is a void in the nation’s leadership as politicians grapple with a growing corruption scandal and instead is backing his deputy as a potential replacement. “There is a vacuum at the top,” Imee Marcos said during an interview in her Manila office on Thursday. “And that’s a problem because all sorts of sinister and malignant forces have jumped in to fill that void.” Tensions between the siblings... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3334449/marcos-sister-says-philippines-faces-leadership-vacuum-new-jab-president?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3334449/marcos-sister-says-philippines-faces-leadership-vacuum-new-jab-president?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 28 Nov 2025 03:07:47 +0000 Raissa Robles Raissa Robles Mounting corruption scandals and an impeachment push have prompted calls for the Philippine president and vice-president to resign, with legal experts saying a little-known constitutional clause provides for a snap election to be called if the roles are vacated at the same time. A growing chorus from civil society groups and politicians is urging President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr and Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio to step down, with Marcos accused by a political veteran of playing a leading... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3334413/what-happens-if-philippine-president-and-vice-president-both-resign?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3334413/what-happens-if-philippine-president-and-vice-president-both-resign?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 27 Nov 2025 14:18:47 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr refused to respond on Monday to an allegation by his estranged sister, a senator, that he has been a long-time drug addict whose cocaine dependence has undermined his governance, saying with a sombre tone that he did not want to discuss a family rift in public. Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro has said that Senator Imee Marcos’ accusations against her own brother before a huge religious rally in Manila last week were “a web of lies”, and may... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3334012/philippines-marcos-sisters-drug-claims-were-worried-about-her?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3334012/philippines-marcos-sisters-drug-claims-were-worried-about-her?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 25 Nov 2025 01:30:37 +0000 Sam Beltran Sam Beltran The Philippines’ deepening flood-control corruption scandal has now drawn in one of the country’s most influential religious groups, with a mass mobilisation by members of the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) church offering a revealing glimpse into the political fault lines reshaping Manila’s crisis. The two-day gathering, which began on Sunday and drew more than half a million INC members to the capital, was officially framed as a demand for transparency and accountability over billions of pesos... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3333613/how-influential-philippine-church-flexing-its-political-muscle-amid-flood-scandal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3333613/how-influential-philippine-church-flexing-its-political-muscle-amid-flood-scandal?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 21 Nov 2025 02:00:53 +0000 Raissa Robles Raissa Robles A searing public broadside by Senator Imee Marcos accusing her younger brother, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jnr, of using cocaine and cannabis has stunned the Philippines’ political establishment and intensified a bitter feud inside one of the country’s most powerful clans. Delivering her claims to a crowd of 600,000 at a rally organised by Iglesia ni Cristo – a religious group with historic ties to the Marcos family whose name translates to Church of Christ – Imee, 70, said she felt... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3333262/marcos-family-feud-philippine-president-microdoses-cocaine-sister-claims?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3333262/marcos-family-feud-philippine-president-microdoses-cocaine-sister-claims?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 18 Nov 2025 10:30:09 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Philippine prosecutors filed on Tuesday the first criminal charges in a sweeping corruption scandal over bogus flood control projects, promising “many” more indictments in the case that has prompted public ire and protests. Rage over so-called ghost infrastructure, believed to have cost taxpayers billions of dollars, has been building for months, ever since President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr put the issue centre stage in a July address after weeks of deadly flooding. Scores of construction firm... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3333274/philippine-flood-corruption-scandal-deepens-first-charges-over-ghost-projects?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3333274/philippine-flood-corruption-scandal-deepens-first-charges-over-ghost-projects?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 18 Nov 2025 10:10:25 +0000 Raissa Robles Raissa Robles Two of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr’s most senior cabinet members have resigned, as mass protests and corruption allegations intensify pressure on his embattled administration over the widening flood control corruption scandal. Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin and Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman quit late on Monday, days after being implicated in the scandal by fugitive ex-lawmaker and former Marcos ally Zaldy Co. The resignations came as a rally, which started on Sunday and... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3333145/2-top-philippine-officials-marcos-cabinet-quit-amid-flood-control-scandal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3333145/2-top-philippine-officials-marcos-cabinet-quit-amid-flood-control-scandal?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 17 Nov 2025 14:12:45 +0000 Raissa Robles Raissa Robles The new speaker of the Philippine House of Representatives has pledged to push through a long-stalled law banning political dynasties – despite hailing from one of the country’s most prominent clans and sharing the chamber with multiple relatives. Faustino “Bojie” Dy III, elected speaker in September with near-unanimous support, told lawmakers on November 11 that he would prioritise legislation to finally implement the constitution’s ban on dynasties. Observers say the move could address public... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3333121/philippine-speakers-anti-dynasty-push-just-lip-service?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3333121/philippine-speakers-anti-dynasty-push-just-lip-service?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 17 Nov 2025 10:26:32 +0000 Sam Beltran Sam Beltran President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr’s sharp decline in public trust and approval, set against Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio’s steadier numbers, underscores the shifting balance of power between two of the most influential political dynasties in the Philippines. While both leaders remain broadly popular, analysts say the latest figures suggest Duterte-Carpio’s camp may be regaining momentum as Marcos grapples with scandals, governance missteps and waning confidence in his leadership – deepening a... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3331977/philippines-marcos-main-casualty-political-issues-trust-ratings-plummet?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3331977/philippines-marcos-main-casualty-political-issues-trust-ratings-plummet?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 07 Nov 2025 11:53:19 +0000 Sam Beltran Sam Beltran Officials in the Philippines have hit back at the tirades of lawmaker Paolo Duterte, who accused the country’s armed forces of “gambling with Filipino lives” and called the military chief a “puppet of the CIA”. Observers say the allegations from the son of former president Rodrigo Duterte are aimed at resuscitating old narratives and pro-Beijing talking points to undermine the current administration. On Saturday, the younger Duterte published a statement on social media directed at Armed Forces... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3330663/philippines-dutertes-cia-puppet-slur-ignites-fierce-military-backlash?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3330663/philippines-dutertes-cia-puppet-slur-ignites-fierce-military-backlash?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Oct 2025 04:00:09 +0000 Sam Beltran Sam Beltran Public anger over corruption has boiled over in the Philippines, sending President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr’s approval ratings tumbling and potentially tilting the balance of power with his political rivals. The latest survey by Pulse Asia Research shows that Filipinos are increasingly blaming the government’s recent corruption scandals – from flood control “ghost projects” to lavish spending by politically connected contractors – for their daily struggles, such as inflation and inadequate... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3329811/will-corruption-backlash-against-marcos-reshape-philippine-politics?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3329811/will-corruption-backlash-against-marcos-reshape-philippine-politics?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Oct 2025 09:55:29 +0000 Sam Beltran Sam Beltran Half of Filipinos believe that former president Rodrigo Duterte should be held accountable for the deaths related to his bloody drug war, with observers pointing out the findings of a new survey could further “lend legitimacy and support” to an international court’s investigation into the ex-leader. The results come amid the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) rejection of the plea by Duterte’s defence counsel to allow his interim release from detention in The Hague. The poll was conducted by... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3329264/accountability-looming-philippines-duterte-survey-shows-growing-demand-justice?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3329264/accountability-looming-philippines-duterte-survey-shows-growing-demand-justice?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Oct 2025 10:50:32 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Former Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte, charged with crimes against humanity, will remain in custody after the International Criminal Court on Friday rejected a request from his defence team for release on medical grounds. ICC judges ruled that Duterte posed a flight risk and could be in a position to influence witnesses if freed, arguing that this outweighed any medical problems suffered by the 80-year-old. “The Chamber finds that Mr Duterte’s detention continues to remain necessary,” the... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3328567/icc-denies-release-ex-philippines-president-duterte-amid-flight-risk-concerns?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3328567/icc-denies-release-ex-philippines-president-duterte-amid-flight-risk-concerns?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Oct 2025 10:56:58 +0000 Raissa Robles Raissa Robles Philippine military chief Romeo Brawner Jnr has revealed he recently rebuffed a group of eight retired generals and colonels who urged him to tackle rampant corruption in the country, a call sources have described as a push for a “soft coup” to withdraw support from President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr and back Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio. General Brawner, who spoke to This Week in Asia after a briefing with the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (Focap) on Friday, said the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3328049/how-philippine-military-chief-foiled-soft-coup-bid-undermine-marcos?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3328049/how-philippine-military-chief-foiled-soft-coup-bid-undermine-marcos?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Oct 2025 02:00:12 +0000 Alan Robles Alan Robles A wave of fake news and conspiracy theories has taken aim at the Philippine military, with viral claims of coup plots, foreign interference and high-level defections spreading rapidly on social media. Observers warn the campaign is fuelling political instability by exploiting public outrage over recent major corruption scandals. Several trace the effort to a network of loyalists and influencers aligned with former president Rodrigo Duterte, the chief political rival of President Ferdinand Marcos... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3327831/fake-coup-and-cia-plot-rumours-philippines-fuelling-real-political-turmoil?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3327831/fake-coup-and-cia-plot-rumours-philippines-fuelling-real-political-turmoil?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 04 Oct 2025 05:30:08 +0000 Sam Beltran Sam Beltran The release of charges against Rodrigo Duterte by the International Criminal Court (ICC) has provided the most detailed public account yet of the killings tied to the former Philippine president’s bloody drug war, but the path to a full trial remains uncertain amid claims of his cognitive decline and his lawyers’ push to halt the case. On Monday, the ICC’s Office of the Prosecutor released a heavily redacted document dated July 4 detailing the accusations against Duterte, who has been detained... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3326868/icc-charges-against-duterte-expose-scale-drug-war-killings-road-trial-uncertain?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3326868/icc-charges-against-duterte-expose-scale-drug-war-killings-road-trial-uncertain?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 25 Sep 2025 10:34:19 +0000 Alan Robles Alan Robles Half a century after his father declared martial law, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr is confronting his own crisis: a corruption scandal of dizzying scale, coup rumours in the air and tens of thousands of Filipinos preparing to march on the streets of Manila. Adding to the pressure, Beijing has signalled a readiness to cement its de facto control over the contested Scarborough Shoal – a move analysts warn could permanently alter the strategic map of the South China Sea. “He’s... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3326145/trillion-peso-turmoil-hands-philippines-marcos-legacy-defining-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3326145/trillion-peso-turmoil-hands-philippines-marcos-legacy-defining-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 21 Sep 2025 04:00:15 +0000 Raissa Robles Raissa Robles The youngest son of former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte has filed criminal charges against four cabinet secretaries and several senior officials, accusing them of “kidnapping” his father and spiriting him to The Hague to face crimes against humanity charges before the International Criminal Court. But legal scholars and political insiders contend the case is a thinly veiled attempt by the Duterte camp to derail the appointment of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla as the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3325870/dutertes-son-files-kidnapping-charges-against-philippine-officials-save-vp-sara?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3325870/dutertes-son-files-kidnapping-charges-against-philippine-officials-save-vp-sara?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 17 Sep 2025 10:30:26 +0000 Raissa Robles Raissa Robles Coup rumours swirled in the Philippine capital over the weekend, with the military placed on “red alert” and all leave for its personnel cancelled, ahead of planned protests against corruption in state-funded flood control projects. Sources close to and within the military confirmed to This Week in Asia that certain private individuals, former generals and groups were trying to persuade active-duty officers to withdraw their support for Commander-in-Chief and President Ferdinand Marcos... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3325600/philippine-military-red-alert-coup-rumours-swirl-anti-corruption-protests?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3325600/philippine-military-red-alert-coup-rumours-swirl-anti-corruption-protests?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 15 Sep 2025 09:01:37 +0000 Sam Beltran Sam Beltran A growing wave of anger in the Philippines over corruption-tainted flood control projects is spurring activism among university students and other Filipinos that observers say evokes the spirit of past political uprisings. At the University of the Philippines’ main campus in Quezon City, over 3,000 students and lecturers left their classrooms to rally on Friday against what they described as systemic corruption. The university has long been a cradle of student activism and political dissent. Its... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3325392/chilling-corruption-over-flood-projects-philippines-fuels-campus-activism?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3325392/chilling-corruption-over-flood-projects-philippines-fuels-campus-activism?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 14 Sep 2025 07:30:08 +0000 Raissa Robles Raissa Robles Allies of former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte lost their grip in the Senate on Monday after 15 lawmakers backed a leadership change that could alter the balance of power over corruption probes and Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio’s scuttled impeachment trial. The process took just 24 minutes – from a motion to declare the post of Senate president vacant to the swearing-in of Vicente Sotto III, a veteran lawmaker who is allied with President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr, for the role. Sotto’s... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3324787/philippine-pro-duterte-senators-caught-flat-footed-over-senate-leader-change?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3324787/philippine-pro-duterte-senators-caught-flat-footed-over-senate-leader-change?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 08 Sep 2025 13:36:47 +0000 Sam Beltran Sam Beltran Widespread local scepticism towards China and strong backing for Manila’s claims in the South China Sea are set to shape Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr’s foreign policy choices, as his camp looks to maintain influence ahead of the 2028 election. The latest survey by polling firm OCTA Research, released on Monday, found that 85 per cent of Filipinos distrust China – slightly lower than the 91 per cent recorded in March 2024 but still a strikingly high figure. Analysts say the sustained... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3323248/china-biggest-security-concern-filipinos-amid-sea-tensions-poll?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3323248/china-biggest-security-concern-filipinos-amid-sea-tensions-poll?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 27 Aug 2025 02:30:09 +0000 Sam Beltran Sam Beltran President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr has expressed anger over failed flood-control projects in the Philippines, as he warned of “economic sabotage” charges against “big” offenders to stem entrenched corruption in the infrastructure sector. “I’m not disappointed, I’m angry,” Marcos told local media after inspecting a barren site in Bulacan where a 55 million-peso (US$964,000) river wall was supposed to have been built. “They didn’t work for even a single day. Even if you see it for yourself, you won’t... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3322706/philippine-president-fumes-over-flood-corruption-economic-sabotage?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3322706/philippine-president-fumes-over-flood-corruption-economic-sabotage?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 22 Aug 2025 00:00:20 +0000 Raissa Robles Raissa Robles Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr delivered his shortest State of the Nation address (Sona) to date on Monday, as he mostly sidestepped foreign policy issues and used the occasion to launch a blistering attack on public infrastructure corruption. During the speech, which lasted an hour and 10 minutes, Marcos Jnr made no mention of China and referred to the United States only in passing. The focus on corruption and a lack of insight into external developments suggests a calculated bid by... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3319892/philippines-marcos-jnr-rails-against-corruption-state-nation-address?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3319892/philippines-marcos-jnr-rails-against-corruption-state-nation-address?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 28 Jul 2025 14:43:49 +0000 Alan Robles,Raissa Robles Alan Robles,Raissa Robles Monday’s opening of the Philippines’ Congress has been thrown into chaos by a Supreme Court ruling that effectively killed the long-awaited impeachment trial of Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio. The Supreme Court’s decision, delivered late on Friday, quashed the Senate’s long-delayed trial on a technicality, ruling that the impeachment violated the constitutional “one-year rule” against multiple proceedings within a year for the same official. The fallout has cast a pall over what would... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3319798/sara-duterte-impeachment-ruling-sparks-constitutional-storm-philippines?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3319798/sara-duterte-impeachment-ruling-sparks-constitutional-storm-philippines?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 28 Jul 2025 08:00:14 +0000 Raissa Robles Raissa Robles The Philippine Supreme Court has derailed the impeachment trial of Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio over a procedural flaw, a landmark ruling that legal observers warn avoids the substance of the allegations and risks leaving the public with more questions than answers. In a unanimous 15–0 ruling delivered on Friday, the court found that the impeachment complaint endorsed by the House earlier this year violated the “one-year rule” under the 1987 constitution, which prohibits multiple... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3319651/philippine-court-stops-vp-sara-dutertes-impeachment-raising-more-questions-answers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3319651/philippine-court-stops-vp-sara-dutertes-impeachment-raising-more-questions-answers?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 25 Jul 2025 13:00:38 +0000 Raissa Robles Raissa Robles A new ammunition manufacturing hub in the Philippines, funded by the United States and intended for joint use by American and Filipino forces, has already been quietly approved, President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr revealed during a visit to Washington this week. The Philippine leader told reporters after his meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House that the plan for the facility had been agreed upon “almost a year ago”. Marcos added that the move aligned with Manila’s long-standing... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3319551/us-philippines-confirm-munitions-hub-subic-bay-trump-vows-well-have-everything?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3319551/us-philippines-confirm-munitions-hub-subic-bay-trump-vows-well-have-everything?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 25 Jul 2025 06:00:10 +0000