The Makabayan bloc on Thursday, December 26, slammed the inclusion of former President Rodrigo Duterte in Vice President Sara Duterte’s legal team in her impeachment complaints.
In an interview with Teleradyo, ACT Teachers party-list Representative France Castro recognized that Vice President Duterte has the right to do so but labeled the move as “a desperate bid to secure political backing” should the impeachment complaints advance.
“Pagdating ng trial makikita naman doon talaga kung ano ‘yung magiging katotohonan,” Castro said.
Kabataan Party-List Rep. Raoul Manuel, for his part, said that the father-and-daughter legal team-up is “nothing but political theater.”
Meanwhile, Gabriela Party-list Representative Arlene Brosas urged the Dutertes to focus on addressing their accountability for the alleged crimes committed during the previous administration’s bloody drug war.
The three-member bloc also called on the vice president to “put an end to diversionary tactics” and “address the allegations directly.”
Surigao Del Norte Second District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, who is one of the co-chairs of the Quad Comm holding hearings into issues related to the the Duterte administration, including the war on drugs, said there has been no talk of impeachment yet at the lower chamber yet.
“Hindi pa naman pinag-uusapan ang impeachment dahil hindi pa, kahit sa ‘min sa Kongreso wala pang usapan tungkol diyan. So I don’t know kung anong mga usapin tungkol diyan sa mga nai-file sa Kongreso. Ang mangyayari, pagbukas ng Kongreso. Hindi ko alam ‘yan,” Barbers said.
The Vice President is currently facing three impeachment complaints lodged by progressive groups, civil society organizations, lawyers, and religious sectors.
Vice President Duterte has refuted allegations of misusing confidential funds allocated to her office in 2022 and 2023, claiming the controversy is an effort to undermine her prospects for the 2028 presidential elections. (TCSP)
