Duterte impeachment rap counsel warns of possible diversionary tactics
MANILA, Philippines – The public should watch out for possible “diversionary tactics” during the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte, one of the counsels for the second impeachment complaint warned on Saturday.
Dino de Leon, one of the lawyers for the complainants of the second complaint against the Vice President, said the “tactics” may include Duterte–and even her lawyers and supporters–”taking advantage” of the current economic crisis and the tensions in the Middle East to divert attention from possible questioning on her bank accounts.
De Leon also claimed that Duterte’s announcement of her presidential bid in the 2028 elections was made so she can describe her impeachment as a form of “politicking.”
“She will say that it’s all politicking, but she will not answer [the allegations], because the Vice President could never respond to it because she knows these are all true,” de Leon said at a media forum in Quezon City.
Duterte’s declaration of her presidential candidacy was also meant to “scare off” House lawmakers and even senators, which according to de Leon was tantamount to telling off lawmakers to “don’t ever cross her line.”
De Leon was recalling the possibility of the House justice committee summoning the bank records of Duterte as part of the impeachment proceedings.
One of the committee members, Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon, said last week that the panel may have to ask for bank accounts and reports by the Anti-Money Laundering Council that would help explain the “gap” in the Vice President’s statement of assets, liabilities and net worth.
READ: VP Sara Duterte must explain ‘gap’ in SALN–Ridon
For de Leon, however, the vice president and her lawyers “will have a hard time” explaining the bank account should it show discrepancies.
“So, they will do whatever it takes [to not answer] and now, I am warning the public, the Dutertes will employ immense diversionary tactics. They will take advantage of the economic situation because of the war [in the Middle East], as well as the oil price hike, they will take advantage of that just because they won’t allow the bank accounts to be opened,” de Leon said.
The vice president has since described the impeachment against her as “politically motivated,” insisting there was not enough evidence to pin her to the allegations including the alleged misuse of her confidential funds in the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education, an agency she formerly headed.
READ: Sara Duterte impeachment raps advance; Evidence and witnesses next
Two of the four impeachment complaints were found sufficient in form, substance and grounds by the House justice committee, setting the next hearing on March 25, with the vice president invited.
Duterte and her camp have yet to confirm if she will attend the next impeachment proceedings. /gsg
