Palace rejects Mans Carpio's 'collateral damage' claim, joins his 'prayer for truth'

Malacañang rejected on Saturday Second Gentleman Atty. Mans Carpio’s remark that he is collateral damage in his wife Vice President Sara’s impeachment trial, and stated that it will join Carpio to pray “for the truth.”

“Well, tulungan natin magdasal si Mans Carpio. 'Yan ang gusto nating lahat ng Pilipino — magdasal para lumabas ang katotohanan kasi maraming nabubulag ngayon,” Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said.

(Well, let’s help Mans Carpio pray. That is what all Filipinos want—to pray for the truth to come out because many are being blinded right now.)

Speaking at an event on Thursday, Carpio said that they are praying that the issues surrounding him and his wife will finally come to an end.

“Nagdarasal na lang kami na sana matapos na (We are just praying that it will end soon), God willing,” Carpio said.

Castro said they will join Carpio in his prayer, emphasizing turning to the true God.

“Pero kung magdasal tayo, dapat sa totoong Diyos. Hindi kung sinong diyos-diyosan diyan,” Castro said.

(But if we pray, it should be to the true God—not to just any false idol out there.)

Carpio also accused the government of using everything against them and dragging him into the issue as if he were the one being impeached and becoming collateral damage.

“Wala sila makita kay Sara kaya parang collateral damage ako,” the Second Gentleman alleged.

(They can’t find anything on Sara, so it seems like I’m collateral damage.)

For its part, the Palace said that the people deserved full transparency regarding all the evidence available, citing the President’s previous statement that no one will be singled out.

“Dahil sa panahon ni Pangulo Marcos Jr., hindi ginagawa ang pag-cover-up. walang sinisino. Sabi nga natin, kamag-anak, kaibigan, kaalyado, kung may makikitang ebidensya laban sa kanila patungkol sa anomalya, dapat itong imbestigahan,” Castro said.

(Because under President Marcos Jr., cover-ups are not allowed. No one is spared. As we have said, whether relative, friend, or ally, if evidence of wrongdoing is found against them, it must be investigated.)

“So kung may nadadamay lamang, sinasabi nila, malamang ay may ebidensya so kung wala namang ebidensya malilinis naman nila ang kanila mga pangalan,” she added.

(So if someone is being dragged into this, as they claim, it is likely because there is evidence. If there is no evidence, they will be able to clear their names.)

On Day 37 of the Vice President’s impeachment trial, a prosecution witness testified that Duterte and her husband were found to have unexplained wealth and undeclared assets amounting to P817.87 million. —KG, GMA News