đź“·La Union 1st District Rep. Paolo OrtegaÂ
House Deputy Majority Leader and La Union 1st District Rep. Paolo Ortega called Vice President Sara Duterte and her allies to stop abusing legal processes to divert public attention from her impeachment case.
In a statement on Sunday, February 23, Ortega condemned the surge in cases their camp filed against House leaders—almost daily or three times a week—before the Supreme Court and the Office of the Ombudsman.
Ortega argued that these cases do not seek legitimate legal redress but are intended to intimidate, harass, and create media distractions.
“This is a clear abuse of legal processes. Instead of addressing the serious allegations of corruption and misuse of public funds, the Vice President and her camp are wasting the time of our courts with frivolous cases designed to harass those who simply did their duty,” Ortega said.
“Sana harapin na lamang ni VP Duterte ang lahat ng nilalaman ng impeachment na iniwansan niya noon sa imbestigasyon ng Kamara,” Ortega added.
The lawmaker defended the House’s decision to impeach Duterte, emphasizing that it acted within its constitutional mandate. He warned against weaponizing the judiciary to silence legislators and mislead the public.
“We see this for what it is—an attempt to intimidate the House, divert attention from the issues, and create noise to mislead the public. But no amount of legal theatrics can erase the facts. There were serious and questionable transactions in the Vice President’s use of confidential funds and the Department of Education under her watch,” Ortega said.
He called on Duterte’s camp to respect the democratic process and avoid undermining institutions with politically motivated legal maneuvers.
Despite the legal challenges, Ortega assured the public that Congress remains committed to upholding accountability.
“These intimidation tactics will not succeed. The House remains firm in its commitment to upholding transparency and accountability in government. We will not allow anyone—no matter how powerful—to evade scrutiny,” Ortega said.
The impeachment case against Duterte stems from allegations of corruption and misuse of public funds, particularly involving confidential funds and transactions within the Department of Education under her leadership. Ortega’s statements underscore the House’s determination to pursue accountability amid what he views as attempts to obstruct justice and mislead the public. (TCSP)
