PHILIPPINE politics may be imperfect, but it is never boring. 

With the 2025 elections coming up this May, the country is already feeling the heat of the political conflicts. Dramas once thought to exist only on screens have now unfolded into reality. 

From dynasty clashes and Chinese spies, to arrests and acquittals of known political personalities, 2024 was certainly an eventful year for public affairs. 
In this article, republicasia revisits the key moments of 2024’s state affairs, highlighting the highs, lows, and unexpected shocks that shaped the year.

United we fall— the Marcos-Duterte Clash

Although suspicions about falling out between the two camps were already brewing late last year, the Marcos-Duterte clash finally exploded in 2024. The allegiance particularly between President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte,who campaigned together under the banner of UniTeam with a platform of national unity, began to crumble.

In January of this year, during a prayer rally in Davao City, former President Rodrigo Duterte and the Vice President’s father, threw mud at President Marcos by calling him ‘bangag’ or high on drugs. Duterte doubled down by calling Marcos a dictator just like his late father, former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. The Vice President’s brother and Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte also joined the attack against the President when he asked him to step down from his post due to his supposed lack of vision for the country. 

Marcos responded to Duterte’s allegations: “I think it’s the fentanyl,” blaming the verbal attacks on him to Duterte’s alleged use of the opioid painkiller. 

Meanwhile, in February, Vice President Sara Duterte insisted that she and Marcos were on good terms, but her relationship with the First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos seemed to be in turmoil after she refused to comment about their relationship. 

This skirmish was only officially confirmed in April, after the First Lady expressed her dismay on Rodrigo Duterte’s ‘bangag’ comment. During this time, talks about Sara Duterte being replaced as Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary circulated, which President Marcos denied. 

In June, VP Sara Duterte resigned from the Marcos cabinet as the DepEd secretary. She gave a 30-day notice and attributed her resignation for the welfare of teachers and students. Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero said that Duterte’s resignation was inevitable from the moment her family attacked the Marcoses. 

In July, the rift between the two families only seemed to deepen. VP Duterte announced that she would be skipping the President’s State of the Nation Address, appointing herself as the designated survivor. This caused an uproar among citizens and lawmakers, as they viewed the statement to be an assassination threat. VP Duterte denied the allegations, saying that her statement was misunderstood. Yet she provided no further explanation. 

In August, Sen. Imee Marcos, the president’s sister, defended VP Duterte over her swipes at the administration, particularly with the flood control projects and healthcare system. During this month, trust rating on President Marcos improved while VP Duterte saw a dip. 

In September, VP Duterte straight up denied that she was friends with President Marcos, saying that they were only acquaintances. She also said that they only began talking when they became running mates in the 2022 elections, and it didn’t extend outside of their work and campaign. 

In the same month, Former President Duterte emphasized the importance of an opposition party to maintain the checks and balances for the country’s democracy. This seemed to be another dig at the Marcos administration as the Duterte faction began positioning themselves as the political opposition during this time. 

In October, VP Duterte launched a scathing attack against President Marcos, accusing him of incompetence and a lack of leadership over issues of inflation and food security. She admitted to daydreaming about cutting the head of the current president, and threatened to exhume Ferdinand Marcos Sr. ‘s remains from ‘Libingan ng mga Bayani’ to throw it to the West Philippine Sea if attacks against her do not stop. 

This remark earned her an anonymous disbarment complaint in the Supreme Court in November. Although the President himself refused to comment on this, the Presidential son and Ilocos Norte and 1st District Representative, Alexander “Sandro” Marcos, spoke up. He called VP Duterte’s comments as ‘abhorrent’, calling her behavior a “bizarre temper tantrum that horrified the nation”. 

During the same month, VP Duterte threatened to have President Marcos, First Lady Liza Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez assassinated if ever she got killed during a live-broadcast on her Facebook page: “Don’t worry about my safety. I have talked to a person and I said, if I get killed, go kill BBM, Liza Araneta, and Martin Romualdez. No joke. No joke.”

Once again, this caused commotions among lawmakers and netizens, with President Marcos describing her threat as a criminal plot. The national police and military also upped their guard, strengthening the Presidential security. 

VP Duterte, on the other hand, denied that her statement was a threat and insisted that it was only an expression of concern for her own safety. 

Nevertheless, the National Bureau of Investigation still issued a subpoena to VP Duterte’s office, inviting her to coordinate with the investigation and answer questions regarding the threat to the President. 

On December 11, VP Duterte skipped the hearing for which she was subpoenaed, believing that the investigation would not be fair. She sent a lawyer instead, who brought her official letter of denial to the alleged grave threats she said.

During this time, the VP also faced threats of impeachment due to alleged corruption and violations of constitutions. Marcos also confirmed that he asked lawmakers to refrain from filing an impeachment case against VP Duterte as he believes it would be a ‘waste of time’. But the House of Representatives also confirmed that they were acting independently from the President, emphasizing their constitutional obligation to act on filed civil complaints. 

In the midst of this, both the President and the VP’s trust rating declined according to Pulse Asia Survey. Fitch Ratings also warned that the Marcos-Duterte feud could pose growth risks for the Philippines. 

Alice Guo’s investigation, escape, and arrest

Alice Guo’s case dominated the summer of 2024, lasting until the midyear. Who could ever forget the drama that unfolded in the Senate, generating countless meme-worthy contents? From ‘lumaki po ako sa farm’ meme, to being compared to Meteor Garden’s Shancai, Alice Guo seemed to be harmless enough to be the center of Filipino humor. 

However, revelations about Alice Guo’s true identity exposed the darker underbelly of Philippine politics. From accusations of being a Chinese spy to allegations of leading an organized crime syndicate, Guo’s case uncovered unsettling truths about national security that left the nation stunned.

It all began in 2023, when an illegal Philippine Offshore Gambling Operation (POGO) hub was raided in Bamban, Tarlac. It was found out that the Baofu Compound housed a dozen POGO workers, most of whom were victims of illegal trafficking. 

But Guo’s name only popped out a year later in March 2024, after authorities received a complaint from a Malaysian national that they’re being held against their will in the Baofu Compound, which was in operation yet again as a facility for only scams. Over 800 individuals were rescued from the property. 

By this time, the Senate was in the middle of an on-going investigation in the POGO industry. Guo’s involvement with POGO came after documents of her application for operation license for questionable ventures such as the Hongsheng Gaming Technology, Inc. and Zung Yuan Technology, Inc.—both raided by authorities— came to light. A vehicle that was registered under her name was also confiscated from the compound. 

Despite the evidence, Guo denied being involved with POGO’s illegal hub. She said that she was in the ‘buy-and-sell’ business, and that she had already sold the car that was found on the compound. 

Meanwhile, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) formed a task force that will investigate the involvement of some Local Government (LGU) officials in POGO. This was led by Benjamin Zabala Jr., along with six lawyers and an engineer. 

In May, questions about the identity of Guo arose in the Senate investigations. Senator Risa Hontiveros probed Guo about this, stating that she had no hospital birth records and that she was registered late in 2005. Suspicions about Guo being a Chinese spy also began circulating. 

Guo’s answer to her lack of records was that she was homeschooled. She claimed that she was a lovechild between a Filipina housemaid and a Chinese man. 

Yet Guo was under intense scrutiny, and evidence was soon found out that she might be lying about her identity. 

In June, Senator Gatchalian revealed documents about a certain Guo Hua Ping who entered the Philippines in 2003. This is who they suspected Alice Guo to be. He also disputed that Alice Guo is a child of a Filipina because on the birth certificate, it was indicated that her mother was Li Wen Yi, a Chinese woman. 

July was a chaotic spectacle for the Senate. Alice Guo failed to appear at the hearing twice, claiming that she was not feeling well. Senator Hontiveros was prompted to cite her for contempt. On July 12, Senators Hontiveros and Escudero signed an arrest order for Guo after she failed to appear at the July 10 hearing. They included both Alice Guo and Guo Hua Ping names to Immigration Bulletin Lookout. Yet it still didn’t stop Guo’s camp from fleeing the country. They were found to have escaped on July 18, with suspicions of ‘inside-jobs’. 

In August, the Commission on Elections issued a subpoena against Guo for material representation while the Office of the Ombudsman ordered her dismissal due to being guilty of grave misconduct. 

On August 19, Sen. Hontiveros revealed that Guo had left the country and had already been in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia using her Philippine passport. She fled with her alleged siblings and business associates Wesley Guo, Shiela Guo, and Cassandra Ong. They were said to have ridden boats on their route to Sabah. 

On August 22, Benhur Abalos of DILG announced that Shiela and Ong were arrested in Indonesia. 

A month later, on September 3, Guo was arrested by Indonesian authorities in Jakarta. She arrived two days later in the Philippines, accompanied by Abalos and Philippine national Police Chief, General Rommel Marbil. 

In October, Guo continued to deny involvement in POGO, saying that she doesn’t know Lin Xunhan, POGO’s ‘big boss’. 

In November, she failed to attend the Senate final hearing about the case, stating that she needed to attend another hearing in Pasig court about the possibility of a bail. 

The bail appeal was denied on December 20. 

Quiboloy’s FBI warrant, arrest, and filing for candidacy

Perhaps, another one of the most notable happenings in Philippine politics this 2024 was the hunt and subsequent arrest of fugitive pastor of Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC), Apollo Quiboloy. This was for his alleged involvement in cases of large-scale human trafficking, rape, and other rights abuses. 

Quiboloy is a known supporter of the Duterte clan, delegating the properties of his sect to their patriarch Rodrigo Duterte. They have been friends for three decades. 

Quibuloy, who was also wanted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the United States, was investigated by the upper chamber committee in January. He skipped the hearing and was represented instead by his legal counsel, Atty. Melanio Elvis Balayan. 

In February, he was issued a subpoena by the House of Representatives Panel after he failed to show up during the investigations. The lower chamber committee was also conducting their own probe on bills and resolutions regarding Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI). 

A former KOJC member also revealed that former President Rodrigo Duterte and his daughter VP Sara Duterte visited the KOJC compound, carrying a bag of firearms after they left the area. He also disclosed that Quiboloy himself had bags of firearms kept in a tent next his mansion. 

Due to the growing pressure put on him by the House and Senate, Quiboloy finally spoke up and said that an assassination attempt against him was being planned by the United States government, which stops him from revealing himself. 

It was also during this time that Quiboloy received the subpoena sent to him. 

In March, the Senate women panel sought the arrest of Quiboloy after he failed to appear in the investigation. Quiboloy’s camp said that he would not attend the hearing due to its incriminatory nature. Quiboloy’s lawyer insisted that his appearance would compromise his rights. 

In April, the Senate finally sought the help of police authorities on Quiboloy’s arrest implementation. A Davao Regional Trial Court also issued an arrest order against Quiboloy for violating the Anti-child abuse law. Quiboloy’s co-accused also turned themselves in to authorities, but were granted temporary freedom after posting a bail.

Cases against Quiboloy continued, involving human trafficking and the revocation of license for possession of firearms, but authorities still failed to locate him. 

In May, Quiboloy surrendered five firearms registered under his name to the PNP. It was found out that his other firearms were sold to people with Canada as their surnames. 

In June, conflicts between the PNP and KOJC ensued when the PNP stormed the KOJC premises to serve the warrant of arrest to Quiboloy. Charges were filed against KOJC members for their interference and their alleged attempts to attack authorities. The PNP insisted that it was a “lawful operation”.

In July, Abalos announced a PHP10 million reward for anyone who can provide credible information that will lead to Quiboloy’s arrest. He also said that a PHP1 million peso reward will be given to those who can provide information to the whereabouts of Quiboloy’s subordinates. 

In August, the Court of Appeals issued a freeze order on Quiboloy’s assets due to his impending court cases. This includes the freezing of accounts of his religious sects as well as the SMNI media. 

The KOJC camp also filed cases against Abalos and the other PNP officials. 

This was followed by the KOJC compound raid from which around 2000 members of the PNP participated in Davao City as part of another attempt to serve a warrant to Quiboloy and the other Sect members. 

This event was condemned by some prominent personalities, including Rodrigo Duterte and VP Sara Duterte. They called the operation violent and abusive. VP Duterte even apologized to KOJC members for asking them to vote on Marcos during the 2022 elections. 

On the same day, KOJC held a protest in Davao City against the warrants served for Quiboloy. 

During this time, the PNP claimed that it was close to finding Quiboloy as they detected signs of life from an underground area. 

In September, Quiboloy was finally arrested along with four others. 

In October, Quiboloy announced his intention to run as an independent senatorial bet for the 2025 elections. He filed a certificate of candidacy (COC) on October 8. 

On December 22, Comelec junked the nuisance petition against Quiboloy filed by Workers and Peasants Party (WPP) president Jose Sonny Matula.

Anomalies on DepEd under Sara Duterte

Alleged anomalies within the Department of Education, overseen before by VP Sara Duterte, also stirred significant controversy this year. From the implementation of Matatag curriculum, to the publication of the infamous book ‘Isang Kaibigan’, DepEd under the leadership of Duterte was ripe with corruption allegations. 

According to France Castro, ACT Teachers Party Representative, VP Duterte has left DepEd with many problems. She said that the Matatag Curriculum has further burdened the teachers, who are now required to handle 7 to 8 teaching loads per day, with every class lasting 45 minutes. 

Allegations of cash envelopes being handed to DepEd executives were also scrutinized as the Office of the Vice President eyed possible plunder charges over irregular liquidation reports and technical malversation in handling of confidential and DepEd funds. 

It was also reported that out of the PHP10 billion allocated budget for DepEd’s computerization program, only PHP2 billion were used, suggesting further anomaly. This affected the bicameral’s decision to lower the budget of the Education department for 2025, which was contested by the new Education Chief Sonny Angara. The 2025 national budget signing that was supposed to happen on December 20 was delayed as President Marcos continues to review the plan. 

Sen. Robin Padilla’s ‘in heat’ comment

Senator Robin Padilla also took the spotlight this year after his viral ‘in heat’ comment that earned the ire of citizens. 

This happened during a probe on the proliferation of sexual harassment and abuse in the media industry, following the allegations on GMA-7 contractors. Padilla’s comment came after Atty. Lorna Kapunan, an advocate for women’s and children’s rights, explained that no means no, even in the context of marriage.

“Mayroon kang sexual rights sa asawa mo. So halimbawa, hindi mo naman pinipili ‘yung ‘in heat’. So paano ‘yun kung ayaw ng asawa mo? So wala pong ibang paraan talaga? Para ma-ano ‘yung lalaki, so paano ‘yun, mambabae ka na lang ba?” 

These were Padilla’s exact words. Many have found it alarming as it showed the Senator’s disregard for lack of consent. 

Mariel Rodriguez-Padilla, Robin’s wife, was quick to come to her husband’s defense. She posed a picture of them kissing, with the following caption: “Oh, may consent ‘yan ah.”

She, too, was quick to come under fire in the comment section. Netizens said that this was an insensitive dig to those who suffered from marital rape.