Marcos' impeachable offense? Sara Duterte says signing 2025 budget

For Vice President Sara Duterte, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s signing of the 2025 national budget is an impeachable offense.

She issued the remark when sought for comment on the Palace’s statement that the President did not commit any impeachable offense.

“Para sa akin, personal ko na opinyon. Ako, di ba, ang nagsabi pinakauna na impeachable offense ‘yung pagpirma ng budget na alam mong galing siya sa bill na may mga blangko at merong mga insertions,” she said.

(For me, based on my personal opinion. As I said before, his signing of a budget that comes from a bill that has blanks and insertions is an impeachable offense.)

At a Palace briefing, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro responded, “Unahin niya na po muna ang mga kaso niya bago niya tignan ang kaso ng iba.”

(She should prioritize her own cases before looking at others' cases.)

In December 2024, Marcos signed into law the proposed national budget for fiscal year 2025. Following the controversy on anomalous flood control projects, several people were accused of budget insertions.

Marcos has denied allegations linking him to the scheme.

“At syempre, impeachable offense din ‘yung humihindi ang isang opisyal kapag merong nagtatanong ng competency niya na mamuno at may nagsasabi na gumagamit siya ng illegal na droga,” Duterte said.

(Of course, it is also an impeachable offense for an official whose competency is being questioned and accused of using illegal drugs to refuse checks.)

Duterte said that she would not refuse if her fitness was challenged.

“Kasi nag-oath ako, eh. At sinasabi ko doon, I will preserve and defend the Constitution. Paano mo ma-preserve and defend ang Constitution, ang Saligang Batas, kung wala ka sa tamang pag-iisip?” she said.

(Because I took an oath. And I said, I will preserve and defend the Constitution. How can I defend the Constitution if I am not in my right mind.)

Castro said “Unahin niya po 'yung sarili niya. At siguro mas maganda itanong niya iyan sa kaniyang ama.”

(She should take care of herself first. And maybe it would be better for her to ask his father about it.)

Meanwhile, Duterte slammed Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro over her response to Duterte’s claim that senators who are seemingly supportive of her are being harassed by the administration.

Duterte said that Castro is bringing shame to the country.

“At syempre kapag ganun ‘yung nagsasalita at ganun ang sinasabi ng nagsasalita nagdadala siya ng kahihiyan sa bayan ng natin. Kaya dapat hindi na siya pinapakinggan at pinapansin,” she said.

(And of course when someone speaks like that and says those things, they bring shame to our country. That is why they should no longer be listened to or given attention.)

Castro pointed out that saying the Vice President was a source of fake news is not bringing shame to the country.

“Ang nakakahiya po ay umaming may kakilalang assassin at handang magpapatay ng Pangulo, ng First Lady, at ng dating House Speaker. Ang nakakahiya po ay hindi gumalang sa order ng court at manuntok ng sheriff. Bawal po 'yan sa batas,” Castro said.

(What is shameful is admitting that she knows an assassin and is ready to have the President, the First Lady, and the former House Speaker killed. What is shameful is not respecting the court order and punching the sheriff. That is forbidden by law.)

“At ang nakakahiya din po ay gumamit ng mga fake na AFP certificate para sa Youth Summit para palabasin na ang P15 million mula sa confidential funds ng DepEd sa pangunguna ni VP Sara ay ginamit sa Youth Summit na pinasinungalingan po mismo ng AFP. At gumamit pa ng abogado sa katauhan ni Atty Michael Poa para mapagtakpan ang paggastos sa P15M confidential funds. 'Yan po ang nakakahiya,” she added.

(And what is also shameful is using fake AFP certificates for the Youth Summit to make it appear that P15 million from the confidential funds of the DepEd led by VP Sara was used for the Youth Summit which the AFP itself denied. And even using a lawyer in the person of Atty. Michael Poa to cover up the spending of the P15M confidential funds. That is shameful.) —with a report from Joviland Rita/AOL, GMA Integrated News