Just last week, civil groups rallied at the EDSA People Power Monument to protest Congress’ inaction regarding impeachment complaints filed against Vice President Sara Duterte. But on Wednesday, the House of Representatives moved to impeach the vice president. This, amid declining trust ratings and the midterm elections fast approaching.
In case you missed it, here are some of the most important State of Affairs stories this week.
Vice President Sara Duterte Impeached
For two months, three impeachment complaints against Duterte awaited movement in the House of Representatives after they were filed in December 2024. By late January, members of the House were sure that the lower chamber would not proceed with an impeachment. But on the last session day of Congress, 215 House members signed a fourth complaint, effectively impeaching Duterte. Now, however, the Senate seems reluctant to proceed with a trial.
Marcos and Duterte Trust Ratings Drop
According to a January 2025 survey by nonprofit social research firm Social Weather Stations (SWS), trust ratings for Duterte and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. have dropped to 49 percent and 50 percent respectively. Netizens have expressed doubts about the integrity of SWS and its survey, claiming that the results were manipulated or influenced by both Marcos and Duterte camps amid their ongoing feud.
37 Influencers Snub House Hearing on Fake News
37 influencers failed to show up to a tri-committee hearing on online disinformation at the House of Representatives on Tuesday, February 4. Many of the absentees were notable vocal supporters of the previous Duterte administration, including National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) Spokesperson Lorraine Badoy, SMNI News broadcaster Jeffrey Celiz, and blogger Sass Sasot.
Food Security Emergency Declared Due to High Rice Prices
The Department of Agriculture declared a food security emergency on rice on Monday, February 3 amid climbing rice prices. The DA said that this allows them to release buffer stocks of rice to stabilize prices, pulling retail prices down from the P45 to P65 range to P35.
The 5 Biggest Questions Ahead of the 2025 Senatorial Elections
The latest voter preference survey shows Marcos’ senatorial bets dominating the polls at the expense of the opposition, Duterte allies, and even the president’s sister Senator Imee Marcos. Ahead of the elections, we ask questions like Why are the Tulfos so popular? Is there hope for opposition candidates? And is the Duterte bloc’s influence waning?
