Duterte Sends Cabinet a Patriotic Call—Ask Him First Before the Senate
In a recent televised address, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte decided that no Cabinet soldier would march into a Senate hearing without a sassy “yes” from him. The stage was set on Tuesday, September 14, when the big boss declared that senators who’re poking his administration’s $1 billion pandemic budget were just chasing political glory.
“I Wanna Be in the Spotlight,” says President Duterte
“I’ll tell every Cabinet member to get my green light before they receive an invite,” Duterte said, adding that if he found the call suspect or feel the panel’s intent was harassment, he’d block it outright.
It’s the latest iteration of Duterte’s “no‑question” stance, following his past moves to shut down Senate probes—most notably when he told the army’s commander to drop a congressional summons over the questionable vaccine trial of his guards.
Why the Tension?
The Senate has been busy, zeroing in on a multi‑billion‑peso contract for medical supplies awarded to a small, tangled firm linked to public officials. The Senate, for all its doubts, has historically pulled or sued officers where needed, according to Senate President Vicente Sotto.
Activists have been quick to label Duterte’s move a “tyrannical” attempt to hush up alleged corruption. Left‑wing activist Renato Reyes tweeted the order is a “cover‑up” in all caps.
Moving Forward
- Neri Colmenares, former congressman‑turned‑activist, begged Cabinet members to “keep going”—otherwise the public’s right to scrutiny would be compromised.
- Senators claim that the hearings were already skewed because they help elections—something Duterte ain’t sure about.
- Despite the drama, the Senate’s record shows they’ve eventually removed or pressed charges against officials in the past month.
As the saga unfolds, the question remains: Will Duterte’s keep‑me‑in‑the‑loop rule halt the Senate’s watchdog work, or will the legislators continue to stand their ground, refusing to be silenced by the executive’s hush‑might?
