Malacañang on Wednesday emphasized that all parties remain committed to truth, transparency, and accountability, noting that a single article of impeachment may suffice to seek the removal of Vice President Sara Duterte from office.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro made the observation following the House prosecution panel’s withdrawal of Articles I regarding confidential funds misuse, III regarding bribery and graft, and IV regarding grave threats from the impeachment complaints against the Vice President.
Only Article II, which addresses alleged unexplained wealth and statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth (SALN) violations, remains active before the Senate impeachment court.
“Actually, isa lang naman po ang kakailanganin kung kinakailangan na maipakita na dapat na ma-impeach ang Bise Presidente,” Castro said.
She reiterated that Malacañang maintains a non-interference policy regarding decisions made by the prosecution or the Senate impeachment court.
“Everybody, we are all for the truth. We are all for transparency and accountability. Pero kung ito ang legal na estratehiya ng prosecution, hindi po natin mako-question kung ano man ang kanilang desisyon at kung ano ang ipakita nilang mga ebidensya at mga dokumento,” Castro also said.
Castro added that the Vice President had the opportunity to respond to the allegations before the impeachment court and may still choose to address them in other forums.
She noted that had the Vice President previously addressed issues such as the alleged misuse and unaccounted allocation of confidential funds, the matter would not have reached the stage of an impeachment trial.