Joselito Malig

Article (news)

Jervis Manahan

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA (UPDATED) — Vice President Sara Duterte on Tuesday issued a statement calling for the protection of the independence of institutions, including the Senate.</p><p>She issued the statement following a series of events at the upper chamber, most recently the surrender of Senator Jinggoy Estrada over graft and plunder charges.</p><p>&quot;Ang mga natutunghayan natin ngayon ay dapat ikabahala ng bawat Pilipinong naniniwala sa demokrasya, anuman ang kanilang paniniwala o kulay sa pulitika,&quot; Duterte said in a video statement.</p><p>&quot;Nakikita natin kung paano ginagamit ang mga institusyon ng gobyerno at ang pera ng taumbayan laban sa anumang oposisyon,&quot; she claimed. </p><p>&quot;Sa halip na tutukan ang mga tunay na suliraning kinakaharap ng ating mga kababayan, ginagamit ang kapangyarihan upang patahimikin ang mga boses ng mga hindi sumasang-ayon,&quot; she alleged.</p><p>Several of the majority senators allied with the Vice President are facing legal cases.</p><p>&quot;I have always believed that the independence of our institutions must be protected. This includes not only the Senate and the House of Representatives as institution, but every Senator and member of the house must be free to perform his or her constitutional duty according to conscience, free from threats, pressure, or any form of intimidation,&quot; Duterte said.</p><p>&quot;A democracy cannot survive when those in power see every critic as an enemy and every opposing voice as a threat,&quot; she added.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/2/waiting-game-at-senate-a-day-after-majority-no-show-1526">Minority senators urge Cayetano to resign as Senate chief over &#x27;dereliction of duty&#x27;</a></div><p>Duterte highlighted the importance of plurality of voices in a democratic country, especially with opposition.</p><p>&quot;Good governance does not require the elimination of opposition. Democracy works best when there is a healthy opposition that is free to question,&quot; Duterte said.</p><p>&quot;A government that fears dissent is not demonstrating strength. It is revealing insecurity. And that insecurity is reflected in the direction our country is taking today,&quot; she added.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;DISTURBING REALITIES&#x27;</strong></div><p>Duterte summarized the state of the nation into &quot;three disturbing realities&quot;.</p><p>These, according to her, include the effort &quot;to divert attention from legitimate questions surrounding the flood control controversy, the willingness to disregard constitutional safeguards in pursuit of a politically motivated impeachment, and the relentless pursuit of greater political power under the guise of charter change.&quot;</p><p>&quot;These are the symptoms of a government that has become more preoccupied with protecting power than serving the people,&quot; Duterte alleged.</p><p>&quot;The Filipino people deserve a government focused on solving problems, not silencing critics; on strengthening institutions, not bending them to political ends; and on serving the nation, not perpetuating power,&quot; she added.</p><p>&quot;Democracy is not weakened by dissent. Democracy is weakened when those in power become afraid of it,&quot; she said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>BASED ON EVIDENCE</strong></div><p>Palace Press Officer Usec. Claire Castro, however, said the criminal cases faced by majority senators are not politically motivated,  but are based on evidence.</p><p>&quot;Ang kinakasuhan ay ang mga di umanong sangkot sa anomalya o korapsyon. Dumadaan ito sa pag iimbestiga, sa pagrespeto sa due process at ang mga naaakusahan rito ay dininig at binigyan ng pagkakataon na sumagot,&quot; Castro said.</p><p>&quot;Naghahanap ang mga kababayan natin ng mga dapat na managot na tinatawag nilang mga big fish. Kaalyado man o hindi ...kung nasasangkot dapat na maimbestigahan, yan ang nagaganap sa ngayon,&quot; she added.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/2/jinggoy-estrada-graft-arraignment-pleads-not-guilty-1323">Sandiganbayan reschedules graft arraignment of Estrada, Bonoan</a></div><p>Castro said Duterte&#x27;s statement is alarming especially since it appears she is covering up the corruption allegations against senators allied with her.</p><p>&quot;Nakakaalarma ang mensahe ng Bise Presidente dahil nililinis na niya ang mga sangkot sa korapsyon, dahil ba sa kaalyado niya ang mga ito? Pinapalabas niya na mga biktima lamang silang lahat ng political persecution,&quot; she said.</p><p>&quot;Wala silang ibang depensa kundi manira sa administrasyon, ngunit tahimik sa merito ng mga akusasyon. Maging mapanuri. Huwag na tayog magpaloko,&quot; Castro said.</p>

<p>Vice President Sara Duterte on Tuesday issued a statement calling for the protection of the independence of institutions, including the Senate.</p>

Vice President Sara Duterte on Tuesday issued a statement calling for the protection of the independence of institutions, including the Senate.

Sara Duterte: 'Independence of institutions must be protected'

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Sara Duterte: 'Independence of institutions must be protected'

Jervis Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 02, 2026 05:35 PM PHT

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Updated June 02, 2026 06:32 PM PHT

Read More:

Sara Duterte

Senate

Jinggoy Estrada

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