Sara Duterte sidesteps allegations in reply to impeachment case
MANILA, Philippines — The House team of prosecutors on Tuesday expressed disappointment with Vice President Sara Duterte’s answer to the articles of impeachment, assailing her for relying on technicalities instead of confronting the allegations head-on.
“We had anticipated that we’ll finally see her answers on the confidential fund, bribery, unexplained wealth and even threats [allegations], but apparently, her reply consisted once more of constitutional issues,” said Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro, head of the 11-man prosecution team.
On Monday, Duterte filed her answer to the articles, with her lawyers arguing that these “suffer from fatal constitutional, procedural and substantive defects” and hence, should be dismissed.
Her camp also claimed the charges relied on “erroneous conclusions, speculation, political rhetoric and materials gathered through an unauthorized evidentiary fishing expedition” in clarificatory hearings held by the House justice committee in April.
READ: Sara Duterte to Senate: Junk impeachment raps
She is prepared to appear at the trial “if necessary,” her lawyers said.
“What they raised were purely technical issues,” Luistro said. “There’s no evidence corresponding to the allegations of offenses,” she noted, adding that Duterte’s reply to the charges is not “responsive” to the accusations.
‘Not a direct answer’
“I don’t know if this is part of their legal strategy, but up to now we still haven’t seen a direct answer to the allegations of offenses,” she added.
On May 11, a total of 257 House lawmakers voted to impeach the 47-year-old Duterte on allegations she misused secret funds allotted to her office, bribed officials to circumvent procurement guidelines, amassed unexplained wealth and plotted to have President Marcos, first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former Speaker Martin Romualdez assassinated if she, too, was killed.
READ: House prosecution vows to oppose move to dismiss Duterte impeachment
The manner by which Duterte’s camp responded to the impeachment charges could bolster the case against her, prosecution spokesperson and Kabataan Rep. Renee Co said.
“We have a strong case, and we look forward to presenting it in the trial itself,” she told the Inquirer.
The Senate convened as an impeachment court on May 18 and is set to open the trial on July 6. /cb
