Palace on NUP unlikely backing VP Sara impeachment raps: It's their decision

Malacañang on Thursday said the National Unity Party (NUP) has the freedom to decide whether it will support the impeachment complaint lodged against Vice President Sara Duterte. 

''Desisyon po nila 'yan, may kalayaan po silang mag-decide, hindi naman po sila sinasaklawan ng ating Pangulo at ng administrasyong ito,'' Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said at a briefing. 

(It's their decision, they have the freedom to decide, they are not under the supervision of the President nor this administration.) 

''Malamang 'yun po 'yung nakikita nilang magandang aksyon para sa kanilang political party,'' she added.

(Maybe they see that it is what's best for their political party.)

In an earlier statement, the NUP said it is unlikely to vote in favor of the impeachment complaint filed against Duterte unless “compelling new evidence” is presented.

“At this stage, the NUP has not seen the inclusion of new and material evidence that would warrant a departure from issues that have already been the subject of prior inquiries and extensive public hearings,” the NUP said. 

“Unless compelling new evidence emerges during the course of these hearings that fundamentally alters the factual basis for the impeachment complaint, the NUP will most likely not vote in favor of this measure,” it added.

The impeachment process must not be used as a political tool, the NUP further said.

The House committee on justice will start its deliberations on the merits of the four impeachment complaints against the Vice President on March 2.

The impeachment complaints accuse the Vice President of betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution, graft, and corruption, mainly over the alleged misuse of P612.5 million of confidential funds and using them as supposed bribes and threatening to kill President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. and his immediate family. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News