In the run-up to the 34th anniversary of EDSA 1—the people power revolution that preceded EDSA 2 or January 2001 ousting of then-President Joseph Estrada—two words sum up the flurry of social media rants of netizens: “Duterte Resign.”
On March 2, 2020, The Bureau of Customs (BOC) confirms that suspected syndicates brought in an estimated $370 million into the Philippines in December 2019, with the help of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP) and airport police escorts.
On March 3, 2020, Ombudsman Samuel Martires has filed graft and indirect bribery charges against former Nayong Pilipino Foundation, Inc. (NPFI) chairman of the board Patricia Ocampo-Desiongco and five other ex-NPFI officials for accepting free transportation to and accommodation in Jeju Island, South Korea from a private firm during negotiations on a lease contract involving the same firm.
On March 9, 2020, President Duterte signs Proclamation No. 922, which declaring a public health emergency over the increasing number of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in the country.
On March 12, 2020, Code Red Sublevel 2 was declared in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and issuing a partial lockdown on Metro Manila to prevent a nationwide spread of the said disease.
On March 16, 2020, The Department of Agriculture (DA) has confirmed reports that bird flu or the H5N6 avian flu has been detected in Jaen, Nueva Ecija. President Duterte signs Proclamation No. 929, placing the entire Philippines under a state of calamity amid the ongoing situation of COVID-19. On September 16, President Duterte signs Proclamation No. 1021, which extends until September 12, 2021, the state of calamity in the country due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has issued Memorandum Order on March 1, 2020, that all broadcast and communications companies would have the authority to stay on air with their permits automatically renewed while the entire Luzon is placed under enhanced community quarantine due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
On March 17, 2020, Luzon is under enhanced community quarantine due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the country as announced by the President in his evening address last March 16, 2020. This expanded the community quarantine imposed in Metro Manila on March 15. Quarantine measures in other parts of the country of varying levels were imposed as well in the following months.
On March 25, 2020, President Rodrigo Duterte signs the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act of 2020 (Republic Act No. 11469), a measure that gives him additional powers to strengthen the government's response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic after Congress urgently deliberated and passed the measure within a day. On July 1, the Supreme Court (SC) has dismissed the petition filed by Jaime Ibañez, that questioning the constitutionality of the Bayanihan to Heal as One-Act.
On April 14, 2020, The government has begun its mass testing processes on persons suspected of having COVID-19.
On April 17, 2020, The Supreme Court has conducted a special en banc session, the first-ever done online in its 119-year history as the judiciary seeks to deal with urgent matters amid a Luzon-wide lockdown imposed to stop the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
On April 27, 2020, 15 senators, files a resolution that seeks to amend the Senate rules to allow the conduct of plenary sessions and committee hearings via teleconference amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) situation. President Duterte signs Executive Order No. 111, which abolished the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office (PCDSPO), which served as his chief message-crafting body.
On May 4, 2020, The radio and television franchise for ABS-CBN has expired. The renewal of the franchise is uncertain due to the tense relations of the network with the current administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.
On May 5, 2020, ABS-CBN's broadcasting operations were signed off the air at 7:52 p.m. due to the cease and desist order of the NTC to stop broadcast operations of the said network because of the expiration of its franchise granted to them on March 30, 1995. On June 23, the Supreme Court en banc has dismissed Solicitor General Jose Calida's petition questioning ABS-CBN Corporation's franchise, ruling that the issue was "moot and academic". On August 25, the Supreme Court has dismissed ABS-CBN's petition challenging the National Telecommunications Commission's cease and desist order that forced it to shut down broadcast operations on May 5. On September 10, NTC recalled the frequencies assigned to ABS-CBN, which it said was warranted in the absence of a legislative franchise. President Rodrigo Duterte has directed the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to make the payment of premiums voluntary for overseas Filipino workers in light of opposition against premium rate increases
On May 6, 2020, President Duterte signs Executive Order No. 114, which ordered the implementation of the "Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa" Program to decongest Metro Manila and promote the countryside development.
On May 8, The Supreme Court (SC) has dismissed the petition filed by Atty. Dino de Leon, that seeking the disclosure of President Rodrigo Duterte's health records. On September 8, SC denies with finality the bid of Atty. de Leon, to compel President Duterte to disclose his health records.
On July 10, 2020, After 12 hearings which started last May 26, the House of Representatives, particularly on the Committee on Legislative Franchises, voted 70–11 to deny the franchise application of ABS-CBN.
On July 17, 2020, President Rodrigo Duterte signs Republic Act No. 11480, which allows the president to move or reschedule the start of the school year in an event of a state of emergency or state of calamity.
On July 27, 2020, Duterte is impeached in the House of Representatives; he goes to trial in the Senate.
On August 31, 2020, Employees of ABS-CBN Corporation were retrenched and its businesses were ceased.
On October 12–13, 2020, 186 majority members of the House of Representatives elect Lord Allan Jay Velasco as Speaker of the House of Representatives, unseating incumbent Alan Peter Cayetano amidst the political dispute over the Speakership outside the Session Hall of the Batasang Pambansa Complex.
Cayetano declares Velasco's election as "illegal" and maintains that he is the Speaker.
The crisis was later ended the next day when Rep. Cayetano announced his resignation from his post after lawmakers formally installed Velasco as their new leader at the Batasang Pambansa.
On November 16, 2020, the Senate impeachment trial begins with the tribunal examining a check, an alias that prosecutors say Duterte used for hidden bank accounts. They say Duterte signed the check to buy a mansion for one of his mistresses.
On December 11, 2020, An aide to Singson testifies she delivered $100,000 in payoffs from an illegal numbers game called jueteng to Duterte's personal secretary.
On December 16: Witnesses testify that one of the accounts in the Philippines' third largest bank held millions of dollars in bribes collected by Duterte.
On December 18: The bank's senior vice president, Clarissa Ocampo, says she saw Duterte sign a false name to documents withdrawing $10 million from a secret personal account.
On December 30: Fourty-five synchronized bomb attacks kill 300 people and injure more than 1,200 in Manila, Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela, Obando, Meycauayan, Marilao, San Jose del Monte, Quezon City, Rodriguez, San Juan, Mandaluyong, Pasig, Marikina, San Mateo, Antipolo, Cainta, Taytay, Makati, Pasay, Paranaque, Taguig, Las Pinas, Bacoor, Muntinlupa and San Pedro, days before the trial is to return from holiday recess. Police accuse Muslim rebels but many fear the bombs may be linked to the trial.
On May 27, 2021, Senators vote, 20–3, to convict President Duterte guilty in the article of the impeachment case regarding alleged undisclosed wealth, removing him from office.
On December 11, 2020, An aide to Singson testifies she delivered $100,000 in payoffs from an illegal numbers game called jueteng to Duterte's personal secretary.
On December 16: Witnesses testify that one of the accounts in the Philippines' third largest bank held millions of dollars in bribes collected by Duterte.
On December 18: The bank's senior vice president, Clarissa Ocampo, says she saw Duterte sign a false name to documents withdrawing $10 million from a secret personal account.
On December 30: Fourty-five synchronized bomb attacks kill 300 people and injure more than 1,200 in Manila, Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela, Obando, Meycauayan, Marilao, San Jose del Monte, Quezon City, Rodriguez, San Juan, Mandaluyong, Pasig, Marikina, San Mateo, Antipolo, Cainta, Taytay, Makati, Pasay, Paranaque, Taguig, Las Pinas, Bacoor, Muntinlupa and San Pedro, days before the trial is to return from holiday recess. Police accuse Muslim rebels but many fear the bombs may be linked to the trial.
On May 27, 2021, Senators vote, 20–3, to convict President Duterte guilty in the article of the impeachment case regarding alleged undisclosed wealth, removing him from office.
