VP Sara Duterte says Akbayan-endorsed impeach complaint has no attached evidence

Vice President Sara Duterte on Saturday slammed the latest impeachment complaint filed against her, saying it has no attached evidence proving the allegations against her.

Duterte issued a video message on her Facebook page a day after House Secretary General Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil formally transmitted two impeachment complaints against Duterte to the Office of Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III.

The first verified impeachment complaint was filed by members of the Makabayan Coalition and endorsed by ACT Teachers party-list Representative Antonio Tinio, Gabriela Women’s Party Representative Sarah Jane Elago, and Kabataan Party-list Representative Renee Louise Co.

Among the complainants are current and former progressive lawmakers and leaders including France Castro, Arlene Brosas, Liza Maza, Neri Colmenares, Renato Reyes Jr., Raymond Palatino, among others.

The second impeachment complaint was endorsed by Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Representative Leila de Lima and Akbayan Party-list Representative Perci Cendaña. 

Petitioners are from progressive organizations and civil society groups including Francis Joseph "Kiko" Aquino Dee, Sylvia Estrada Claudio, Teresita Quintos Deles, former Ifugao representative Teodoro Baguilat Jr., and labor leader Josua Mata, among others.

In her video message, however, the Vice President singled out the impeachment complaint endorsed by Akbayan.

“Ang impeachment complaint na inendorso ng Akbayan ay isang papel na walang kalakip na kahit anong ebidensiyang magpapatunay sa mga paratang na isinasaad dito,” she said.

(The impeachment complaint endorsed by Akbayan was a paper without any attached evidence that will prove the allegations it pertained.)

“Hindi na ito bago. Matatandaan na ang impeachment laban sa akin ang naging sagot nila sa aking pag-alis sa Gabinete—isang hakbang na isinagawa dahil hindi na maipaliwanag ng Pangulo ang patuloy na pagkalugmok ng bayan sa kahirapan dulot ng kanyang kapabayaan at bisyo,” she added.

(This is not new. To recall, impeachment complaint was their response to me when I left the Cabinet— a move I did because the President can no longer explain the country’s continuous fall into poverty resulting from his negligence and vices.)

The Vice President also recalled the 19th Congress’ probe which she described as a “fishing expedition” for the planned impeachment against her.

“Paulit-ulit nilang ibinandera ang isyung ‘Mary Grace Piattos’ bilang umano’y bahid ng katiwalian, kahit na sa kabila ng lahat ng imbestigasyon ay wala silang naipakitang kahit isang direktang paglabag sa paggamit ng confidential funds,” Duterte said.

(They repeatedly used the ‘Mary Grace Piattos’ issue to imply irregularities, despite that in all their investigations they cannot show at least one direct violation in using confidential funds.)

The defense team of Duterte earlier said it is ready to explain the use of aliases for confidential funds, such as “Mary Grace Piattos” that became one of the basis for the impeachment complaints filed against her. 

Atty. Michael Poa, spokesperson of Duterte’s lawyers, later on clarified that the infamous “Mary Grace Piattos” will not be presented as part of their defense in the impeachment complaints filed against her. 

The Vice President, in her video message, also recalled the alleged buying of signatures for her impeachment and the so-called “for later release projects” promised to members of the lower chamber who will push for the impeachment, which she said was already admitted by some lawmakers in their statements.

READ: TIMELINE: Impeachment proceedings vs. Vice President Sara Duterte

Duterte further said that Akbayan has no credibility to endorse or submit an impeachment complaint, claiming that their head —Senator Risa Hontiveros— had repeatedly expressed intent to run as president, which she said was “isang malinaw na indikasyon ng pampulitikang motibo sa likod ng kanilang mga hakbang (a clear indication of a political motive behind their actions).”

The Vice President cited Hontiveros’ speech in 2024, in which the senator had said that “while VP Sara is in power, the threat of a full-blown Duterte comeback is still a very real and present danger. For one, they are supported by one major superpower, China.”

“Kaya malinaw na lahat ng ito ay isang uri ng harassment at pang-aabuso sa proseso ng impeachment ng grupong Akbayan. Hindi malinaw kung ano ang ipinaglalaban nila para sa kaayusan ng bayan, pero napakalinaw ng kanilang pamumulitika at pagpapahirap sa usaping diplomasya ng ating bansa,” Duterte said.

(So it is clear that all these is a form of harassment and abuse of the impeachment process by the Akbayan group. It is not clear what they are fighting for for the good of the nation, but one could clearly see their politicking and efforts to muddle the discussion in the country.)

“Sa huli, ang tunay na laban ay hindi lamang laban ng iisang tao o iisang grupo—ito ay laban para sa katotohanan at sa dangal ng ating bansa. Nawa’y magsilbi itong paalala sa ating lahat na ang kapangyarihan ng impeachment ay hindi dapat ginagawang sandata ng pulitika, kundi isang banal na proseso para sa hustisya at pananagutan. Sapagkat kapag nanaig ang abuso, ang tunay na talunan ay ang sambayanang Pilipino,” she said.

(In the end, the true fight is not against one person or one group — it is a fight for truth and honor of our country. May this serve as a reminder to all of us that impeachment should not be used as a weapon in politics, but treat it as a solemn process for justice and responsibility. Because when abuse prevails, the true loser is the Filipino nation.)

GMA News Online contacted Hontiveros to get her comment and will update this story once she issues a statement. —KG, GMA Integrated News