A House leader questioned the conflicting messages coming from Vice President Sara Duterte’s camp regarding her impeachment case, saying her supporters should allow the process to move forward to the Senate if they truly believe she is prepared to defend herself.
House Assistant Majority Leader and Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong said there appears to be a disconnect between Duterte’s legal team, which has repeatedly expressed readiness to face an impeachment trial, and some of her allies who continue urging lawmakers not to advance the case.
“If you are ready for the Senate, why are your supporters blocking the road to it?” the solon asked.
Speaking during an interview, he said the Vice President’s defense panel has publicly maintained that they are prepared to present their case before the proper forum, which he said clearly refers to the Senate acting as an impeachment court.
However, he noted that some supporters of Duterte have allegedly resorted to “scare tactics” to discourage House members from supporting the impeachment process.
“Actually, the way that the supporters and the defense team of the Vice President first argue their individual cases have some sort of disconnect,” Adiong said.
The lawmaker argued that if Duterte’s camp truly wants to clear her name, then allowing the impeachment case to proceed to trial would be the proper course of action.
“That’s the only way they can actually clear out the name of their client,” he said of the legal team’s position.
Adiong stressed that the impeachment complaints are no longer based on mere allegations after the House Committee on Justice found probable cause and consolidated four Articles of Impeachment.
He said the evidence gathered by the committee should be tested through constitutional procedures instead of being blocked through political pressure.
According to the Lanao del Sur lawmaker, attempts to discourage other lawmakers from transmitting the Articles of Impeachment only create further inconsistency in the narrative coming from Duterte’s supporters and defenders.
“One is saying they are ready for the Senate, and the other one is saying do not vote on this and do not bring this to the Senate,” he said.
The House leader also emphasized that the role of the House of Representatives is limited to determining whether sufficient grounds exist to warrant an impeachment trial, not to decide guilt or innocence.
He said the Senate, once the Articles of Impeachment are transmitted, has a constitutional obligation to convene as an impeachment court.
“This is not an issue of personal choices. This is not an issue of personal preference. This is an issue of a constitutional mandate,” Adiong said.
He added that beyond politics and personalities, the impeachment process should ultimately be viewed through the principles of accountability, transparency, and the rule of law.