House prosecutors are pressing Vice President Sara Duterte to give a direct and substantive response to the impeachment charges against her before the Senate impeachment court.
Lead prosecutor and Batangas Rep. Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro said the 11-member prosecution panel expects Duterte’s answer to address the allegations against her, including alleged misuse of confidential funds, unexplained wealth, bribery, and grave threats.
“We will be welcoming the answer of the vice president. Remember, ang mga allegation of offenses in the current articles of impeachment is almost similar to the allegation of offenses in the articles of impeachment in the 19th Congress,” Luistro said during a press conference.
“Suffice it to say, ang tagal na po na naghihintay ang taumbayan ng kasagutan ng ating bise presidente,” she added.
Luistro said the allegations are not new and that the public deserves a clear explanation from Duterte.
“For us, itong araw na ito, finally, makikita na natin ang kasagutan ng ating bise presidente,” she said.
She noted that Duterte previously filed what she described as a “non-answer” during earlier impeachment proceedings, raising mainly procedural and constitutional issues instead of directly responding to the allegations.
“Let us recall that during the Justice Committee proceeding, wala po tayong nakuhang responsive answer to the allegations of offenses. Those which were alleged in their answer are all constitutional issues which are still pending before the Supreme Court,” Luistro said.
Duterte earlier challenged the jurisdiction and impartiality of the House Committee on Justice in her ad cautelam answer dated March 16. She also maintained that she had nothing to respond to and called the allegations “false and misleading.”
Luistro said prosecutors hope Duterte’s answer before the Senate impeachment court will move beyond jurisdictional and constitutional arguments and directly address the charges.
She said the House prosecution team is ready to file its reply within five days once Duterte submits her answer to the articles of impeachment.