Marilyn Cahatol

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ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT Teachers) party-list on Monday, May 19, slammed the Dutertes’ “attempt to monopolize key government positions,” after Vice President Sara Duterte suggested her brother, Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo “Pulong” Duterte, to run for House Speaker or Minority Leader in the 20th Congress.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/5/17/vp-sara-duterte-says-she-asked-brother-rep-pulong-to-vie-for-house-speakership-1631">VP Sara Duterte says she asked brother Rep. Pulong to vie for House speakership, minority leader if defeated</a></div><p>“The Dutertes seem to think that the Philippines is their family corporation where they can simply assign positions to family members as they please,&quot; said House Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro.</p><p>&quot;This blatant attempt to monopolize key government positions shows their utter disregard for democratic principles and reveals their true intention of consolidating power within their family,&quot; she added.</p><p>The vice president made the statement during an ambush interview in Davao City, May 17.</p><p>Paolo Duterte has been re-elected as the Davao City 1st District representative, and is a candidate for House speakership and House minority leadership for the 20th Congress, which will convene in July.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/5/14/ex-president-duterte-happy-to-hear-of-reelection-as-davao-mayor-says-brother-2325">Ex-president Duterte happy to hear of reelection as Davao mayor, says brother</a></div><p>Castro, alongside ACT Teachers Representative-elect Antonio Tinio, stressed that public service is not a family enterprise, and that elected officials should prioritize the people&#x27;s interests instead of their family&#x27;s political ambitions.</p><p>&quot;Public office is a public trust, not a family heirloom to be passed around. The Minority Leader position, in particular, is crucial for ensuring checks and balances in our democracy. It should be held by someone who genuinely represents alternative views, not by someone who will use it merely to advance family interests,&quot; Castro explained.</p><p>The Duterte clan has claimed the opposition after it suffered a series of setbacks, starting from the House’s impeachment of Sara Duterte, and the family patriarch, former president Rodrigo Duterte’s arrest by the International Criminal Court.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/5/12/sara-duterte-invites-filipinos-help-build-powerful-principled-opposition-0032">Sara Duterte invites Filipinos: Help build &#x27;powerful, principled&#x27; opposition &#x27;regardless of past affiliation&#x27;</a></div><p>The alliance of the next speaker is vital for Sara as he/she could affect the House’s “degree of preparation” and “desire to pursue a conviction,” on the vice president&#x27;s impeachment case, said House Deputy Majority Leader Lorenz Defensor.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/5/14/analyst-sees-recalibrations-of-alliances-in-senate-as-impeachment-trial-looms-0044">Analyst sees &#x27;recalibrations of alliances&#x27; in Senate as Sara Duterte&#x27;s impeachment trial looms</a></div><p>House prosecution panels will attend the impeachment trial in Senate, tentatively scheduled on July 30, to defend the lower chamber’s decision on the vice president&#x27;s case.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/5/17/sara-duterte-says-she-wants-bloodbath-in-her-impeachment-trial-2257">Sara Duterte says she wants &#x27;bloodbath&#x27; in her impeachment trial</a></div><p>Meanwhile, the Duterte-backed Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) has gained three Senate seats in the 2025 elections, with the win of reelectionists Bong Go and Bato Dela Rosa, and the newly elected Rodante Marcoleta.</p><p>Camille Villar, backed by both Sara Duterte and the Marcos party, also won a seat.</p><p>Paulo is currently facing a case of alleged assault over a businessman from Davao City, which the vice president claimed was also &quot;politically-motivated.&quot;</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/5/5/-2-oras-niya-ako-binugbog-rep-duterte-s-accuser-recounts-alleged-assault-0155">&#x27;2 oras niya ako binugbog&#x27;: Rep. Duterte&#x27;s accuser recounts alleged assault</a></div><p>ACT-Teachers Representative-elect Tinio called on other lawmakers to resist the Dutertes&#x27; attempt to expand their political influence in Congress.</p><p>&quot;We urge our colleagues in the House to stand firm against this brazen attempt to treat our democratic institutions as family possessions. The Speaker and Minority Leader positions should be filled based on merit, capability, and commitment to serve the Filipino people, not on family connections,&quot; he said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-uTr_PztOo8?si=1tnpzve86RTD4wpj" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT Teachers) party-list on Monday, May 19, slammed the Dutertes’ “attempt to monopolize key government positions,” after Vice President Sara Duterte suggested her brother, Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte, to run for House Speaker or Minority Leader.</p>

The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT Teachers) party-list on Monday, May 19, slammed the Dutertes’ “attempt to monopolize key government positions,” after Vice President Sara Duterte suggested her brother, Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte, to run for House Speaker or Minority Leader.

ACT-Teachers slams Dutertes’ 'attempt to monopolize gov’t positions’

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ACT-Teachers slams Dutertes’ 'attempt to monopolize gov’t positions’

Marilyn Cahatol,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 19, 2025 01:23 PM PHT

Read More:

Sara Duterte

Rodrigo Duterte

Paolo Duterte

House Speaker

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