Rodrigo Duterte Joins Daughter’s Legal Team as VP Sara Duterte Challenges Impeachment Before Supreme Court

Wazzup Pilipinas,!?

In a dramatic twist to the already turbulent political climate in the Philippines, former President Rodrigo Duterte has officially joined the defense team of his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, as she fights against her impeachment. This unexpected move signals the high stakes of the case and further fuels the growing tensions between the Duterte and Marcos factions.

The Impeachment Battle: A Political Power Play?

On February 5, 2025, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly voted to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte, citing serious allegations of corruption, abuse of power, and even an alleged conspiracy to assassinate President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The impeachment motion passed with 215 out of 306 legislators voting in favor, underscoring the gravity of the accusations against her. With the Senate set to commence the impeachment trial on June 2, 2025—just after the crucial mid-term elections—the political landscape is heating up.

However, Vice President Duterte and her allies have consistently maintained that the impeachment is politically motivated. Many believe that this move is an orchestrated effort to eliminate her as a formidable contender in the 2028 presidential elections. Defense lawyer Israelito Torreon went so far as to call it "political persecution," arguing that the impeachment process was rushed to remove her from power before she could further consolidate her influence.

A High-Powered Legal Team Takes the Fight to the Supreme Court

In a decisive response, Vice President Duterte filed a petition for certiorari and prohibition before the Supreme Court, seeking to invalidate the impeachment complaint and halt the upcoming Senate trial. Her legal team contends that the impeachment process violated constitutional provisions, particularly the rule against multiple impeachments within a single year, thereby rendering the case invalid.

The defense team is stacked with legal heavyweights, most notably former President Rodrigo Duterte himself. Joining him are Lucas Carpio Jr. (Sara Duterte’s father-in-law), as well as prominent lawyers Sigfried Fortun, Gregorio Narvasa, Sheila Sison, and Roberto Batongbacal from the esteemed law firm Fortun, Narvasa & Salazar. Their presence in the case signals that the Duterte camp is pulling out all the stops to ensure Sara Duterte remains in power.

Tensions Mount Between the Duterte and Marcos Camps

The impeachment battle has exacerbated the already growing rift between the Duterte and Marcos factions. While the Duterte camp has framed the impeachment as an outright political attack, the Marcos administration has been careful to frame it as an effort to uphold democratic accountability. The case has triggered widespread public debate, with Duterte loyalists seeing it as a witch hunt, while Marcos supporters argue it’s a necessary step toward good governance.

To complicate matters further, former President Rodrigo Duterte himself is currently under criminal investigation for incitement to sedition. His incendiary remarks suggesting that opposition senators should be "bombed" to make way for his party’s candidates have sparked outrage and legal scrutiny. This development adds yet another layer of complexity to the Duterte family's political and legal challenges.

What’s Next?

As the Supreme Court reviews the petition, the nation remains on edge, awaiting a decision that could have far-reaching consequences. If the high court rules in favor of Vice President Duterte, it could upend the impeachment process and deal a major blow to the Marcos administration’s efforts to sideline her. However, if the court upholds the impeachment, she will face trial in the Senate, where her political future hangs in the balance.

Regardless of the outcome, this case is poised to redefine the country’s political trajectory. With mid-term elections approaching and the 2028 presidential race looming on the horizon, the battle between the Dutertes and the Marcoses is only just beginning.

Stay tuned as we continue to cover this developing story.

Eat Your Way Around the World: Oceania Cruises' New Chef-Led Culinary Adventures for 2025!

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Oceania Cruises, renowned for its culinary and destination-focused voyages, has unveiled an enticing expansion to its Culinary Discovery Tours™ for 2025. This enhancement introduces 12 new chef-led excursions across Europe, Asia, and North America, elevating the total to 46 immersive culinary experiences available on their ships Marina™, Riviera™, Vista™, and the upcoming Allura™, set to debut in July 2025.​

These tours are meticulously crafted to transcend traditional sightseeing, offering guests intimate, hands-on encounters with local cuisines and cultures. Limited to 18 participants, each tour is guided by Oceania Cruises' expert Chef Instructors, ensuring personalized and enriching experiences.​

European Culinary Adventures

Amsterdam: Guests can indulge in a plant-to-plate luncheon inside a greenhouse, where ingredients are harvested moments before dining, providing a fresh and sustainable culinary experience.​

Belfast: Embark on a coastal foraging expedition with local chef Paul Cunningham, a competitor on the BBC's "Great British Menu." Participants will gather wild sea herbs and savor freshly prepared seafood chowder paired with a pint of Guinness, all while absorbing the rugged beauty of Northern Ireland's coastline.​

Valencia: Delve into the secrets of authentic paella with a boat ride through the region's rice fields, followed by a hands-on cooking session to master this iconic Spanish dish.​

Asian Culinary Journeys

Kobe, Japan: Witness the meticulous art of traditional Japanese knife-making and enjoy a teppanyaki feast featuring premium wagyu beef, offering a deep dive into Japan's rich culinary heritage.​

Kochi, Japan: Learn the technique of searing bonito over an open flame, a local delicacy, and gain insights into Kochi's unique gastronomic traditions.​

Busan, South Korea: Explore the bustling Jagalchi Fish Market, Korea's largest seafood market, and participate in an onboard cooking class to prepare traditional Korean dishes using freshly sourced ingredients.​

North American Epicurean Explorations

Halifax, Canada: Discover Nova Scotia's culinary scene by sampling artisanal ciders and learning about the region's famed "chowder trail," culminating in a tasting of diverse chowders that highlight local seafood.​

Quebec City, Canada: Immerse yourself in the city's rich culinary tapestry with visits to local markets and eateries, offering a taste of Quebec's French-inspired gastronomy.​

Jason Montague, Chief Luxury Officer of Oceania Cruises, emphasizes the line's commitment to providing authentic connections through food: "Our guests seek more than just incredible cuisine—they crave authentic connections with food, culture, and people." Chef Kathryn Kelly, Director of Culinary Enrichment and the visionary behind The Culinary Center, adds, "Food has the power to connect people to places in meaningful ways."​

These new Culinary Discovery Tours are now open for reservations, inviting travelers to embark on a gastronomic voyage that promises to satiate both their palate and wanderlust.​

Unveiling the Sophisticated Maritime Technology of Ancient Wallacea: New Archaeological Discoveries

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

For centuries, scholars have debated the origins of advanced seafaring and boat-building technologies, often attributing them to civilizations in Europe, the Middle East, or China. However, groundbreaking new research from the Philippines and Island Southeast Asia (ISEA) challenges this narrative, revealing that ancient inhabitants of these regions possessed sophisticated maritime technology tens of thousands of years ago.

New Archaeological Findings in the Philippines and ISEA

A recent study, soon to be published in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports (April 2025), presents compelling evidence that prehistoric peoples in the Philippines, Indonesia, and Timor-Leste were not only adept at open-sea fishing but also had the necessary technology for constructing durable seacraft. Researchers Riczar Fuentes and Alfred Pawlik of Ateneo de Manila University argue that these early Southeast Asian mariners mastered the art of boat-building and deep-sea navigation long before many of their global counterparts.

One of the most significant revelations comes from the microscopic analysis of stone tools found at archaeological sites across the region. Dating back approximately 40,000 years, these tools exhibit clear signs of plant processing—specifically, the extraction of fibers used in crafting ropes, nets, and bindings essential for boat construction and deep-sea fishing. This discovery provides direct evidence that early Southeast Asians had developed complex maritime technology far earlier than previously believed.

The Evidence: Fishing Implements and Deep-Sea Expertise

Excavations in Mindoro (Philippines) and Timor-Leste have uncovered remains of large oceanic fish, including tuna and sharks, indicating that these ancient peoples had the capability to navigate deep waters and track marine species’ migratory patterns. Furthermore, the presence of fishing hooks, gorges, and net weights points to an advanced understanding of open-sea fishing techniques.

According to the researchers, “The remains of large predatory pelagic fish in these sites indicate the capacity for advanced seafaring and knowledge of the seasonality and migration routes of those fish species.” This suggests that early seafarers were not merely drifting on primitive bamboo rafts but actively charting and traversing the seas using sophisticated navigation skills and durable, plant-based seacraft.

Testing the Theory: The FLOW Project

Inspired by years of fieldwork on Ilin Island, Occidental Mindoro, Fuentes and Pawlik have initiated the First Long-Distance Open-Sea Watercrafts (FLOW) Project in collaboration with naval architects from the University of Cebu. This ambitious research effort, funded by Ateneo de Manila University, aims to reconstruct and test scaled-down models of ancient boats using traditional materials believed to have been used by prehistoric seafarers. The project seeks to validate the hypothesis that early humans in Wallacea had the technological prowess to undertake long-distance ocean voyages with purpose-built watercraft.

Implications for Southeast Asian Maritime Heritage

The discovery of this ancient seafaring technology redefines our understanding of early human migration and innovation. It also underscores the ingenuity of prehistoric Philippine and ISEA societies, whose maritime traditions likely set the stage for later Austronesian expansions across the Pacific and Indian Oceans. This evidence challenges the Eurocentric view that technological progress was confined to Africa and Europe, highlighting the crucial role Southeast Asia played in early human maritime history.

Conclusion: A Legacy of Innovation

As researchers continue to explore and reconstruct these early seafaring technologies, their findings reinforce the idea that the maritime expertise of ancient Filipinos and their neighbors was far more sophisticated than previously thought. The presence of complex boat-building skills and open-sea navigation techniques in prehistoric Wallacea not only expands our knowledge of ancient human capabilities but also celebrates the remarkable legacy of Southeast Asia’s earliest explorers.