Vice President Sara Duterte has responded to a supposed review regarding a possible conflict of interest involving two members of her defense team in the impeachment proceedings against her.

Duterte questioned why respondents in impeachment proceedings are not allowed to choose their lawyers freely.

The issue arose after a member of the House of Committee on Justice said the committee will look into the possible rejection of entry of appearance of her two lawyers in the impeachment proceedings.

Bicol Saro Party-list Representative Terry Ridon maintained that lawyers Michael Poa and Reynold Munsayac, who are part of Duterte’s defense team, may have conflicts of interest.

Poa served as spokesperson for the Department of Education (DepEd) when Duterte was secretary of the agency while Munsayac previously served as spokesperson for the Office of the Vice President.

“Ngayon ko lang narinig na ‘yuong respondent ay hindi pinapayagan kung sino ang kanyang lawyers. Ngayon lang ako nakarinig ng circumstance na hindi pinapayagan ang respondent kung sino ang pinipili niya na lawyers. Antayin nalang natin kung ano ang mangyayari,” Duterte said.

Former President and now Pampanga Second District Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said that in a democratic country, proceedings should not be treated as personal or political theater, and those in charge must ensure fairness and adherence to the law.

Arroyo shared her insights as she herself had gone through four impeachment proceedings.

“Speaker Bojie Dy has said that the hearings on the impeachment complaints be tackled fairly. The eyes of the Filipino nation are upon us in Congress. Thus, as we start the floor debates, I urge my fellow Congressmen to do so in a spirit described by Speaker Bojie Dy,” Arroyo said.

Duterte and Arroyo both made the statements after attending an activity of the OVP in Davao City over the weekend.

Duterte is expected to respond to the third and fourth impeachment complaints against her on Monday, March 16, 2026, after the 10-day notice period, following the committee’s declaration that the complaints are sufficient in form and substance.

UNVEILING OF BUCOL STATUE

Meanwhile, Duterte attended the unveiling of the statue of the late Barangay Tres de Mayo chairman Oscar Bucol of Digos City, Davao del Sur also on Monday, March 16, 2026.

Bucol was shot dead on November 26, 2025 while he was live on social media while inside his home. He was known for his hard-hitting criticisms online against some government officials allegedly involved in corruption.

Duterte was among those who offered a P1 million reward for information that can lead to the identification of the suspect..

The Police Regional Office-Davao (PRO-11) recently confirmed that murder charges have been filed against the suspect seen in the Bucol’s livestream video.

“Ang statue ay representation ng panawagan ng mga tao ngayon dito sa Digos City justice kanyang kamatayan at sa pagpatay sa kanya,” Duterte said.

MIDDLE EAST CONFLICT

Speaking before the media, Duterte said the OVP is ready to assist Filipinos, especially overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), who may be caught in the conflict in the Middle East.

Duterte also said that President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. has many shortcomings, not only in expressing sympathy for Filipinos affected by the war.

“Marami siyang kakulangan bilang presidente hindi lamang sa pagbibigay ng simpatya at empathy sa ating mga kababayan more than that ay yung problema at iskandalo gamit ang pera ng bayan,” Duterte said.

(With reports from Rgil Relator and Jandi Esteban, GMA Regional TV One Mindanao)