Malacañang on Tuesday said Vice President Sara Duterte should directly answer the allegations in the impeachment complaint against her instead of relying on technical arguments to seek the case’s dismissal.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said Duterte’s response before the Senate impeachment court did not contain an outright denial of the accusations and appeared similar to her earlier position when the complaint was taken up at the House of Representatives.
“Unang-una po lumalabas dito sa kaniyang naging tugon, hindi niya po di-neny, walang outright denial ng mga akusasyon sa kaniya,” Castro said in a press briefing.
She said Duterte’s camp again appeared to rely on procedural issues rather than directly addressing the substance of the complaint.
“Lumalabas sa kaniyang tugon ay hindi niya ito di-neny at ang ginamit lamang niya na depensa ay mere technicalities,” Castro added.
According to Castro, Duterte failed to directly deny key allegations, including the alleged unexplained use of confidential funds, supposed unexplained wealth, alleged assassination threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., and claims involving funds allegedly received from suspected drug lords.
Castro said it is now up to the senator-judges to decide whether the impeachment case should proceed or be dismissed before the public can see the evidence.
“So, abangan na lang po natin dahil nasa kamay na po ito ng mga senator-judges kung idi-dismiss nila outright, forthwith nang hindi nakikita ng taumbayan iyong mga nais makita na ebidensya,” she said.
The Palace official said the public deserves a process where the allegations and evidence can be examined, especially given the seriousness of the accusations against the vice president.
Castro also reiterated Malacañang’s position that officials who commit wrongdoing should be held accountable.
She said the Palace will maintain that stance as the impeachment case proceeds before the Senate impeachment court.