Malacañang on Monday urged Vice President Sara Duterte to address the allegations against her before the Senate impeachment court rather than issuing statements outside the proceedings.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said Duterte should “practice what she preaches” after the Vice President said the integrity of the impeachment trial depends on respect for the rule of law and not on whether a respondent personally takes the stand.
Castro made the statement after Duterte said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had earlier expressed the view that the impeachment proceedings were not important and that public officials should keep their personal opinions to themselves.
“VP Sara should practice what she preaches now. Sa impeachment court na lang magpaliwanag at magpahayag si VP Sara ng kanyang mga salaysay,” Castro said during a Palace briefing.
She said statements made outside the impeachment court would not help Duterte clear her name.
“Anumang statement niya laban sa Pangulo at sa mga sinasabi ng Pangulo kung labas ito sa korte ay hindi makakatulong na linisin ang pangalan niya,” Castro added.
During a Kapihan forum with the media in Canada over the weekend, Marcos said it would be up to Duterte and her lawyers to decide whether she would personally appear before the impeachment court.
Marcos said that if he were the accused, he would attend the proceedings, answer the charges, and defend himself.
Duterte is facing impeachment over allegations involving the misuse of confidential funds, unexplained wealth, bribery of Department of Education officials, and grave threats against Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former Speaker Martin Romualdez.