ON April 22, 2026, former senator Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV’s sworn affidavit was read at the House of Representatives Committee on Justice hearing on the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte. He alleged that over P2 billion were amassed by Duterte’s family from drug lords. He also claimed that over P100 million in payouts were directly deposited into the bank accounts of the vice president, her husband and her siblings by suspected drug lord Sammy Uy from 2013 to 2016.
These amounts were allegedly not declared in Duterte’s statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN), probably making her liable for unexplained wealth, betrayal of public trust, and graft and corruption — all impeachable offenses. Uy has been linked to Chinese businessman Michael Yang, an economic adviser to former president Rodrigo Duterte who was also associated with the Pharmally executives involved in the controversial multibillion-peso procurement of face masks and surgical gowns during the Covid-19 pandemic. Trillanes’ allegations were supported by a paper trail from the Anti-Money Laundering Council, which confirmed 18 financial transactions that matched his affidavit.
The scale and magnitude of narco-politics at the national and local levels have long been whispered about. Its menace remains hidden, yet its ugly head surfaces from time to time. There is growing evidence that, indeed, some national and local officials may have been influenced by drug traffickers, providing them protection and assistance to monopolize the narcotics trade in exchange for large sums of money. Such narco-politics have corrupted and controlled governments in countries like Mexico and Colombia.
During former president Duterte’s brutal war on drugs, few notorious drug personalities were spared and even prospered during his administration while many others were imprisoned and violently neutralized. Thousands of suspected drug dependents were killed, including widely perceived innocent minors. Despite these extrajudicial killings, Duterte retained strong public support, with loyalists defending his every action. This adoration even extended to the election of his daughter to the vice presidency. This cult-like support seemed unbreakable and remained a powerful force to potentially catapult Sara Duterte to the presidency.
There are “unknown knowns” that emerged from the extensive research into drug-related criminal activities. First, the region’s illegal drug industry operates as a vast network involving transnational organized crime, corrupt politicians and police, and at times, even state-sponsored actors. This unholy alliance has persisted amid the intense geopolitical competition between the United States and China in the region. Second, illegal drugs are predicated on human trafficking, large industrial online scams, and money laundering, where billions are earned and funneled into the country’s financial systems, stashed into the property sector and even put into lawful businesses. This situation poses risks to the integrity of the country’s monetary and economic institutions in the global financial community. Third, some national and local politicians may collude with drug traffickers to not only accumulate ill-gotten wealth, but also finance elections and consolidate power. Ironically, some of them present themselves as staunch anti-drug advocates in a false crusade to deflect public suspicions. Finally, many honest police and military officials are aware of these realities and possess the capability to enforce laws against these politicians, but are often stymied by compromised higher authorities.
What Trillanes revealed may only be the tip of the iceberg. It suggests to law-abiding citizens that the threat of narco-politics to national security is real, especially if the wrong candidates are able to (re)claim power in 2028. With former vice president and Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo’s announcement last week that she would not run for a national position in the 2028 elections, it is now incumbent upon those who still love this country — politicians, business leaders, educators and civil-society members —to rally and unite behind a “winnable” candidate who can stop narco-politics from taking over our land.
The 2028 elections are our only chance left to undo this evil, and ensure a safer nation for generations to come.