Palace on Sara Duterte skipping impeachment proceedings: It's her choice

Malacañang said Wednesday the absence of Vice President Sara Duterte from the impeachment proceedings before the House justice panel was her decision, one that carries implications in the eyes of the Filipino people.

"Choice niya po iyan. Kung ayaw niya pong ipakita sa taumbayan ang katotohanan at iyong isyu about accountability and transparency, iyan po ay hindi niya ipinakikita sa taumbayan ngayon, eh choice niya po iyan," Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said in a briefing on Wednesday.

(It's her choice. If she doesn't want to show the Filipino people the truth and issues related to accountability and transparency, then she is not showing these. It's her choice.)

The two impeachment complaints against the Vice President accuse her of betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution, among others, mainly over the following alleged acts: 

• Misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds and using them as bribes 
• Threatening to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and members of his family
• Alleged accumulation of unexplained wealth

In a separate statement, Duterte said ongoing political processes, including impeachment efforts, are being used for political maneuvering rather than accountability.

During the impeachment proceedings, Ramil Madriaga, a confessed bagman of the Vice President, admitted serving as a "dummy" for bank transactions during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

He said he also delivered P125 million of the Vice President's confidential funds to three locations in 24 hours upon her instruction. 

Moreover, Madriaga accused the Duterte patriarch of allegedly plotting an assassination—or, if not, a coup—against President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. should the latter fail to step down by 2025

The allegations were denied by the Vice President's camp. — VDV, GMA News