Sara Duterte visits Baybay City, joins Brigada Eskwela activities

TACLOBAN CITY — Vice President Sara Duterte visited Baybay City, Leyte, on Friday, where she joined a Brigada Eskwela activity at a public school and paid a courtesy visit to a Catholic shrine, marking her first known trip to the city in nearly a decade.

Duterte visited Banahao National High School in Barangay Banahao, where she participated in Brigada Eskwela preparations ahead of the opening of classes.

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She later proceeded to the Diocesan Shrine of St. Anthony of Padua in Barangay Pompon, where she offered prayers.

Speaking before residents and students, Duterte said she was pleased to return to Baybay City, noting that she last visited here with her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, in 2016.

“The last time I came here to Baybay City was during the campaign in the 2016 elections for my father,” Duterte said in a video posted online by a resident of Barangay Banahao. The elder Duterte is now detained in the Netherlands, awaiting trial for crimes against humanity filed against him in relation to his war on drugs that claimed thousands of lives.

She also expressed gratitude to school officials for inviting her to the Brigada Eskwela activities.

Duterte previously served as Secretary of the Department of Education.

No official statement was issued regarding the purpose of the Vice President’s visit beyond her participation in the school activity and shrine visit.

Baybay City is considered part of the political stronghold of the Petilla family, led by Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla. His cousin, Iloilo Representative Janet Garin, was among the lawmakers who supported the impeachment complaint against Duterte in the House of Representatives.

The Vice President’s visit came on the same day that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., her former running mate in the 2022 elections, traveled to Pinabacdao, Samar, to inspect ongoing rehabilitation and maintenance works at the San Juanico Bridge.

Duterte is currently facing an impeachment trial before the Senate, acting as the impeachment court.

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The articles of impeachment include allegations of her misuse of confidential funds, unexplained wealth, bribery and corruption, and alleged threats she made against President Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker and Leyte Representative Martin Romualdez./coa