Rumors of Vice President Sara Duterte’s possible impeachment loom as issues begin to surface regarding her possible involvement in the ICC probe against her father, former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, and his associates. Moreso, the Commission on Audit (COA) is being asked to pry open how she and her associates spent 150 million pesos in just six days. And worse—the Duterte’s nightmare has come back to haunt them after Congress brought to life the 6 billion peso shabu smuggling that involved her husband, Atty Mans Carpio and his brother Paulo “Pulong” Duterte.

Former Duterte spokesperson Harry Roque described these moves as “politically motivated” while long-time Duterte supporter Senator Bato dela Rosa spun a narrative yarn suggesting that the administration is behind these moves to eradicate the Dutertes as a legitimate political opposition. Dela Rosa says these moves may directly connect with the 2028 presidential elections, a story that is more speculative than real since the polls are still three years away.

Dela Rosa even tried to rouse the extreme and ultra-rightist elements by suggesting that this administration is now in bed with “leftists” and “yellows.” Seems like the good senator is far from reality.

What is certain is this— expect great political instability by September as the ICC concludes its probe on the alleged extra-judicial killings perpetuated by the Duterte administration. Rumors that close associates of the Dutertes from the military and police establishment are on a recruitment drive while their previous grassroots organizers are silently agitating members of urban poor communities in Metro Manila to “rise” against the administration. Their efforts are falling by the wayside as confidence in this administration in the NCR also begins to improve. The DSWD is active at the grassroots level, promoting government programs to the masses and even enhancing the distribution of PPP benefits to urban and rural poor communities.

It is, therefore, entirely difficult for them to recreate the conditions of 1986 EDSA since there is little or scant evidence of massive graft being hurled against the Marcoses by Duterte forces. The fact is– all eyes are now trained towards the Dutertes as cases after cases even involving shabu smuggling accusations are being hurled against their direction.

DDS trolls are in full offensive–even those who went over the baked are now again, singing hallelujah’s and stoning the BBM administration to death. The pro-Duterte menage, however, has lost its sting, mostly propped up by invented or paid views to justify the fantabulous funds being spent for them.

What is certain is this – the Dutertes are in for a fight this September. They will try their hardest to defend their patriarch, but in the end, Mr. Duterte will be paraded before the international community as an example of how strong international pressure can be. Duterte may become an example of a disgraced leader who unfortunately exceeded the bounds given to him by the international civil society.

Vice president Sara also must decide, and decide she must, very quickly, if she will continue to be a part of this administration or not. Her impeachment may not generate the mob that they expect to have to topple this administration. With this in mind, Sara has only one choice— resign as vice president so that she can still run for an elective local post and prepare herself for the bigger task of becoming president come 2028.