Public interest lawyer and Team Pinas convenor Atty. Dino de Leon urged Vice President Sara Z. Duterte to directly answer the impeachment allegations against her, saying the public should not be distracted by theatrics, side issues, and what he called a “non-answer” to the charges.
Speaking at the Saturday News Forum, De Leon said Duterte’s legal team should confront the specific allegations instead of relying on drama.
“Alam po naming, mga mamamayan, at tayo naman, kapwa abogado, kung palabas o hindi, kung theatrics o hindi,” De Leon said.
He criticized the presentation of Duterte’s answer, saying it came with expensive-looking luggage but lacked substance.
“Ang dami-dami pang maleta na pare-parehong mamahalin, ang laman ng mga maleta, supposedly, ang answer, pero wala naman palang laman,” De Leon said.
De Leon said the answer filed by Duterte’s camp failed to address the allegations.
“Ang answer nila is a non-answer,” he said. “Ang answer nila until now hindi sinasagot ang alegasyon.”
He urged Duterte’s camp to answer questions on her financial declarations and alleged bank transactions.
“So please lang ang appeal ko, sagutin ninyo ang alegasyon,” De Leon said.
“Bakit zero ang cash declaration mo sa SALN mo at ano itong P6B na mahigit labas-pasok sa bangko mo?” he asked.
De Leon said these were the issues Duterte should answer instead of allowing public attention to be diverted.
“So yan ang sagutin ninyo,” he said. “Siguro naman kasi baka walang sagot.”
He accused Duterte’s camp and allies of creating distractions to shift attention away from the impeachment case.
“Kaya nililihis tayo at kailangang gumawa ng drama pekeng barilan sa Senado, pekeng Blue Ribbon Committee, sinungaling na 18 Marines,” De Leon said.
“Lilihisin po tayo,” he added. “Balik po tayo sa issue.”
De Leon also said the impeachment process should not be treated merely as a legal strategy, but as a constitutional accountability mechanism.
“Pero sa akin lang, hindi lang strategic ang dapat pinag-uusapan,” De Leon said. “Balik po tayo sa statesmanship, balik po tayo sa public service.”
“Kung lingkod-bayan ka, hindi ba dapat galangin mo ang Saligang Batas?” he added. “And you know that under the Constitution, impeachment is the most sacred accountability process.”
De Leon said the public deserves leaders who are willing to explain themselves and directly answer allegations involving public trust.