Vice President Sara Duterte’s fiery reaction to her chief of staff’s detention has drawn sharp criticism from civil society groups, who accuse the Duterte family of perpetuating a culture of impunity and entitlement.
Outraged over Zuleika Lopez’s brief detention by the House of Representatives, Duterte unleashed profanity-laced tirades and made veiled threats against top officials, including President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
Human rights advocates say the episode mirrors the authoritarian tendencies of her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte.
“It’s all about impunity. It’s all about hubris,” said former Senator Leila de Lima during the launch of the Duterte Panagutin Network, a coalition of lawyers, rights advocates, and victims’ families demanding accountability for both drug war killings and the Dutertes’ brand of leadership.
“They act like overlords who believe they’re untouchable.”
Entitlement or Governance?
Duterte’s interference in Lopez’s detention, which stemmed from her defiance of a House inquiry into confidential funds, drew ire for undermining legal processes.
“Her meltdown over Lopez’s few days of detention is pure drama,” De Lima quipped. “I was jailed for nearly seven years—did you see me throw a fit?”
Teddy Casiño, a former congressman and chairperson of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, likened Sara’s recent actions to her father’s infamous behavior. “Her outbursts reveal a leader acting as an entitled brat and a carbon copy of her father.”
Civil society groups warned that failing to address Sara Duterte’s behavior could embolden similar abuses.
“Allowing impunity today sets the stage for even worse violations tomorrow, especially as we approach the 2028 elections,” said De Lima.
Double Standards in Justice
Critics also highlighted what they called the government’s selective application of justice.
Karapatan Secretary-General Cristina Palabay compared the kid-glove treatment of Sara Duterte to the swift and warrantless arrest of teacher Ronnel Mas in 2020 for a tweet against Rodrigo Duterte. “This double standard underscores how justice is skewed in favor of those in power,” Palabay said.
Lawyer Dino de Leon of the Free Legal Assistance Group warned that the absence of accountability creates fertile ground for future strongman leadership. “Weak institutions make the public vulnerable to populist leaders who exploit them,” he noted.
Accountability Movement Grows
The Duterte Panagutin Network announced plans to reconvene on December 7, ahead of International Human Rights Day. The coalition aims to sustain pressure for justice, not just for drug war victims but for systemic reforms to prevent authoritarianism from taking root again.
Krissy Conti of the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers expressed hope despite systemic challenges. “Even if the law often seems skewed against the powerless, justice must eventually be on our side,” she said.
The Dutertes’ Legacy of Violence
The controversy surrounding Sara Duterte comes amid ongoing investigations into her father’s violent legacy. As president, Rodrigo Duterte admitted to orchestrating extrajudicial killings and running a death squad in Davao City. His anti-drug campaign, which official figures claim killed 6,252 people, may have claimed up to 30,000 lives, according to rights groups.
Sara Duterte, who served as Davao City mayor, has also been implicated in the International Criminal Court’s case against the Duterte administration. She denies the allegations but continues to face scrutiny for her role in perpetuating a culture of impunity.
Calls for accountability grow louder, and civil society groups remain steadfast in their demand for justice: “The law must be for everyone—or it will fail us all.”
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