Atty. Jude Sabio, the lawyer who filed a complaint against President Rodrigo Duterte against the ICC, filed an affidavit for withdrawal on Tuesday.

According to Sabio, who’s the lawyer of a self-confessed member of DDS Edgar Matobato said that he was done with joining politics.

“Nakita ko na ginagamit lang nila ang kaso sa ICC para sa kanilang pulitika. Ayoko nang maging kasali sa ganyang katarantaduhan.” Sabio said when asked why he withdrew his complaint against Duterte.

The lawyer also wrote a letter to the ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda requesting his communication to be erased from the record.

“It should be set aside and thrashed for being just part of the political propaganda of Senator Trillanes, Senator De Lima, and their LP-led opposition which I do not wish to be part,” the letter read.

Sabio was accompanied by Atty. Larry Gadon while signing the said affidavit.

It’s not yet known how Sabio’s latest action would affect the ongoing preliminary examination by ICC.

The opposition is not yet releasing a statement on the latest action of Sabio.

In September 2019, Atty. Jude Sabio said that he already left the camp of Sen. Trillanes after not receiving enough money to fund the ICC complaint he filed against Duterte.

ABS-CBN also contacted Jude Sabio and confirmed that he’s considering to testify against Trillanes over his involvement in producing the “Bikoy” videos.

During the interview, Sabio who’s having financial problems, claiming that Trillanes stopped sending monthly allowance to him which amounted to 50,000-100,000 pesos since the former Senator left his office.

Sabio takes offense at Trillanes' claim the then-senator was merely giving him "aid" insisting that the money he received were monthly retainers for professional services rendered in various cases. pic.twitter.com/vEj3FxF9Te

— Mike Navallo (@mikenavallo) September 6, 2019

“Kailangan ko yung pera eh, 700,000 (pesos) para maka survive ako… paano ako maka recover nito? for the past two years, limitado ang movements ko… hindi ako makapag practice ng pagka abogado ko for a long time,” Sabio said.

However, Trillanes denied the accusations of Sabio, saying that the lawyer offered his service for free.

The critics of President Rodrigo Duterte expressed their disappointment to the chief executive on Twitter amid the erption of the Taal volcano.

Singer Leah Navarro criticized the lack of uproar over “Duterte’s physical absence” several times during calamities.

Navarro then accused that the criticisms received by former President Noynoy Aquino came from bots and trolls who wanted to taint the image of the latter.

She believes that President Duterte “have no real empathy or sympathy” to the people.

“I blame the gullible and uninformed for electing them. Now, even they suffer. How much more can we endure? I’m done,” said Navarro on Twitter.

Another critic of the President, veteran journalist and public relations consultant Philip Lustre Jr. called the President lazy after missing during the Taal ashfall.

“HE’S being mocked and right for his lazy ways. While Taal Volcano rambles and spews lava and other volcanic materials to trigger ashfall in Regions 3, 4 and NCR, the sluggard is nowhere to be found and felt. Asleep in his bat cave in Davao City? Most likely. What’s new? Not much,” Lustre Jr. said.

HE'S being mocked and right for his lazy ways. While Taal Volcano rambles and spews lava and other volcanic materials to trigger ashfall in Regions 3, 4 and NCR, the sluggard is nowhere to be found and felt. Asleep in his bat cave in Davao City? Most likely. What's new? Not much.

— Philip Lustre Jr. (@IpeLustre) January 12, 2020

The tweets of Lustre and Navarro captured the attention of some supporters of Duterte and tried to defend the President mostly against the singer’s twitter post.

“With due respect, the President was in Davao when Taal activity happened. Flights were canceled in NAIA but he made an effort to fly in despite the harsh condition. Let’s not forget your VP who stayed in the US while her hometown was ravaged by a typhn,” netizen @marloukelly told Navarro.

“Because Duterte is silently working his job without being grandstanding while you guys are using this disaster for your future political ambition and we won’t forget that!” @charliekogure remarked.

Duterte arrived at Manila on Monday, one day after the Taal volcano started to heightened its activity which caused ashfall in many provinces in the country.

Pampanga province Governor Dennis “Delta” Pineda is going to pay back for the help they received when Mount Pinatubo erpted in 1991.

In a Facebook post, Pineda said that he will lead a 50-vehicle convoy consisted of medical teams, social workers, rescue and search personnel to assist the victims of the volcano.

They also brought their equipment needed for rescue efforts and food packs for victims.

“Tayong survivors ng Mount Pinatubo ay tutulong sa mga nasalanta ng pagputok ng bulkang Taal. Kasama po si PDRRMO executive officer Angie Blanco,” Pineda said.

“Ako po ang mangunguna sa 50-vehicle convoy na sakay ang mga medical teams, social workers, rescue and search personnel at mga kagamitan para tumulong sa rescue at evacuation ng mga residente na apektado ng pagputok ng bulkan Taal. May dala rin po kami na 8,500 food packs,” he added.

Pineda said that this is Pampanga province’s way to pay back for the help they received when Mount Pinatubo erpted in 1991 which considered the second most destructive in the 20th century.

Pampanga province is the most affected place during that time where 10,000 people became homeless and 800 lost their lives.

“Ito po ay ating pasasalamat dahil noon pong pumutok ang bulkang Pinatubo, marami po ang tumulong sa atin para iligtas tayo at makabangon,”

On January 12, Taal Volcano’s activity started the heightened and it forced thousands of people to evacuate.

It also released ash which affects many provinces in the country.

President Rodrigo Duterte already suspended the classes and government work in three different regions to ensure the safety of the people.

As of writing, Taal Volcano is still raised the alert level 4.

President Rodrigo Duterte was spotted for the first time since the Taal volcano started to spew ashes.

In the photo posted by Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, it showed President Duterte riding the Gulfstream G280 private plane to travel to Luzon.

The President didn’t waste the opportunity to do an aerial inspection around the Taal volcano to see the damage done by the erption.

According to Senator Go, President Duterte is the first to land to Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) today.

Recently Duterte was reportedly planning to visit the affected Areas on Sunday quickly.

However, he experienced difficulties in flying back to Manila because of zero visibility.

Yesterday, the critics of the President asked about his whereabouts and why he’s not appearing in public to make a statement about the incident.

However, the Palace already said that the President already instructed his officials to help the affected people of the Taal volcano.

The President also suspended the classes at all levels and work in government offices in Metro Manila, Central Luzon, and Southern Tagalog.

According to Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo, he’s going to conduct a live one-on-one interview with the President to discuss the incident.

Even during the time of calamities, the critics of President Rodrigo Duterte have time to make fun or blame the chief executive on what’s happening in the country right now.

On Twitter, several netizens blamed President Duterte on what’s happening with the Taal volcano.

“Maybe Taal is asking for Duterte and d DDS to be fed to its crater so that the disastrous future to be faced by PHL could be averted,” netizen @yusufledesma said when he answered a tweet from a blogger asking about the reason of the heightened activity of the volcano.

“Taal’s last eruption was under the Marcos administration. Parallel another for the Duterte administration, will he play the same tricks again? Ghad.” netizen @josiahvantonio tweeted.

“Taal Volcano erpted under Duterte Admin. Coincidence? I think not,” @annyourprecious posted.

Netizen @memedelo723 also mentioned Duterte’s friend, Pastor Apollo Quiboloy in his tweet about Taal volcano.

Some Twitter users also asked why President Duterte is not appearing in public to address them about the heightened activity of the Taal volcano.

“It’s been hours since the Taal eruption—still no statement from Duterte and Malacañang. This is an EMERGENCY for the urban poor & the homeless, who have no choice but to spend tonight breathing volcanic ashfall. We need to demand immediate action from the government!” @rosereyde said.

It’s been hours since the Taal eruption—still no statement from Duterte and Malacañang.

This is an EMERGENCY for the urban poor & the homeless, who have no choice but to spend tonight breathing volcanic ash fall.

We need to demand immediate action from the government!

— Rey Valmores Salinas ? (@rosereyde) January 12, 2020

“Where is President Duterte when Filipinos need him the most. People are suffering the volcanic ashes and Taal Volcano erpting soon yet no televised warning or even advice of encouragement,” @dcdjan said.

A netizen then posted that President Duterte doesn’t need to appear in television as he already ordered his officials to help the people affected by Taal.

“People of the Republic of the Philippines; President Duterte no needs to set up press conference to address the nation with the ongoing magmatic unrest of Taal. The president have sent out his orders through his officials for evacuation and precautionary measures we can utilize,” @MSecretaire tweeted.

People of the Republic of the Philippines; President Duterte no needs to set up press conference to address the nation with the ongoing magmatic unrest of Taal.

The president have sent out his orders through his officials for evacuation and precautionary measures we can utilize

— Madame la secrétaire (@MSecretaire) January 12, 2020

As of writing, President Duterte is not yet appearing in public and speaking about the Taal volcano.

However, he already has given instructions to his officials to undertake measures necessary to put the residents living near the perimeter of Taal to leave the danger zone.

He also ordered the suspension of classes and government work in Metro Manila, CALABARZON and Central Luzon.

The members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) helped the victims of the ashfall caused by the Taal Volcano eruption and brought them to the safest area possible.

In the photo posted by Philippine Information Agency Calabarzon, it showed the cops assisting residents of Talisay, Batangas.

Despite covered in dangerous ashes from Taal volcano, the cops continued their job and ensured that all the affected residents of Talisay are going to get evacuated.

According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), Talisay Batangas is one of the hazard-prone areas that could be significantly affected by the Taal volcano.

Residents in Talisay are warned as they could be reached by rocks from the Taal volcano.

PHIVOLCS also urged the people living within the 14 km radius of Taal Volcano to evacuate as lava fountain already present.

President Rodrigo Duterte ordered already the suspension of classes in Metro Manila, CALABARZON and Central Luzon today because of the heightened activity of the Taal volcano.

They also suspended all work in government offices in the three regions.

The government also urged the private sector to do the same as the ashes are dangerous to get inhaled.

A netizen urged the people on social media to be sensitive on discussing the Taal volcano eruption for the sake of the victims.

On a Facebook post, netizen Prince Babar shared the photos of some victims covered with ashes from the ashfall of Taal volcano while riding a jeepney.

The victims are not wearing masks which made them unprotected from breathing the ashes from the volcano.

According to his source, the victims are being brought to the nearest evacuation centers in Batangas.

“Grabe naiiyak ako.. nakasabay ko mga nag evacuate sa Jip galing Talisay,Batangas may baby pa puro sila putik. 12pm daw pagsabog nagpanic na sila dami pa daw naiwan dun nagiiyakan na lang kasi wala na maskyan.. gusto ko tumulong kaso di ko alam na shock ako.. Lord kayo na po bahala sa kanila at sa buong Batangas..” Babar wrote in his post.

The post already reached 30,000 shares on social media as of writing and the netizens are hoping that all Batanguenos near the Taal volcano are safe already.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology raised to level 4 over the Taal volcano and urged the netizens to be ready for its “hazªrdous expl0sive erupti0n”.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines also deployed eight military trucks and other units in areas affected by Taal Volcano.

“We are in constant coordination with the local government units and the Office of Civil Defense and ready to provide available equipment and manpower to assist in disaster response operations,” the military said.