Palace to VP Sara: Explain accusations rather than use 'mere technicalities'

Palace Press Officer Usec. Claire Castroon Tuesday called on Vice President Sara Duterte to give definite explanations for the allegations against her, instead of using “mere technicalities” to have the impeachment complaint against her dismissed.

Castro said this in a press briefing after Duterte’s camp formally filed their answer to the Articles of Impeachment on Monday.

“Lumalabas dito sa kaniyang naging tugon [na] hindi niya po dineny. Walang outright denial ng mga akusasyon sa kaniya katulad po ng diumanong paglustay ng confidential funds, pagbabanta sa buhay, lalung-lalo na sa buhay ng Pangulong Marcos Jr., pagtanggap diumano ng pera mula sa mga drug lords, at mga unexplained wealth,” Castro said.

(It appears that from her answers, she did not deny anything. There is no outright denial of the accusations against her, like the alleged misuse of confidential funds, the threats to the life of President Marcos Jr., the alleged receipt of money from drug lords, and her unexplained wealth.)

“Lumalabas sa kaniyang tugon ay hindi niya ito dineny at ang ginamit lamang niya na depensa ay mere technicalities—bakit daw naipalabas o papaanong nakuha ang mga ebidensiyang ito,” she added.

(It seems that she did not deny any of those and her defense only focused on mere technicalities.)

In their pleadings, Duterte's legal team submitted that the Articles of Impeachment are "constitutionally infirm, procedurally defective, and substantively deficient."

They also sought the dismissal of the impeachment case against the Vice President.

Duterte's team also denied the accusations and said the "mini-trial" of the House of Representatives "exceeded the constitutional limits of its authority."

"Ultimately, none of the allegations sufficiently establish the constitutional standards for culpable violation of the Constitution, bribery, graft and corruption, high crimes, or betrayal of public trust," the answer reads.

"Rather than presenting clear, credible, and legally sufficient proof of impeachable conduct, the Articles rely on erroneous conclusions, speculation, political rhetoric, and materials gathered through an unauthorized evidentiary fishing expedition conducted beyond the constitutional role of the House of Representatives," it added.

But Castro said that such arguments were already used by Duterte’s defense team in its response to the House Committee on Justice amid its hearing on the impeachment complaints.

“Mas maganda po sana na mas maipaliwanag niya sa taumbayan itong mga inaakusa sa kanya, rather than using mere technicalities to have the complaint be dismissed,” the Palace Press Officer said.

(it would’ve been better if she could explain to the people the accusations against her.)

Castro said that it is now up to the senator-judges to weigh in on the answers of the Vice President.

“Abangan na lang po natin dahil nasa kamay na po ito ng mga senator-judges kung idi-dismiss nila outright, forthwith nang hindi nakikita ng taumbayan ‘yung mga nais makita na ebidensya,” she said.

(Let's just wait and see because it is already in the hands of the senator-judges whether they will dismiss it outright or forthwith without the people seeing the evidence that they want to see.)

“Kung maki-clear naman po ang Bise Presidente sa pamamagitan ng mga ebidensya at ito ay madi-deny niya mas maganda pong ma-clear niya iyong pangalan niya at maipaliwanag niyang walang katotohanan lahat ‘yung mga inaakusa sa kaniya rather than using mere technicalities,” she continued.

(If the Vice President will be cleared using these evidence, it would be better if she will be able to clear her name and explain that all the accusations against her not true, rather than using mere technicalities.)

The Senate impeachment court gave Duterte until Monday, June 1 to answer the writ of summons issued against her in relation to her impeachment case.

The prosecution, on the other hand, may file a reply within a non-extendible period of five calendar days from receipt of the answer. –VAL, GMA News