Pwersa ng Pilipinong Pandagat (PPP) Partylist Rep. Harold Duterte said that the timing of the issuance of a warrant against Senator Rodante Marcolete was peculiar, noting how it was issued during the first day of the impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte.

Duterte expressed that the arrest of Marcoleta deprived the millions of people that voted for him during the elections to feel represented during the process.

“This is too much of a coincidence. It’s one thing to hold the VP for trial, but with the impending arrest of Senado. Marcoleta, 15.3 million Filipinos are essentially deprived of their vote for Sen. Marcoleta,” he said in a statement.

The lawmaker also underscored that the ongoing impeachment proceedings against his sister was a mere way of the current administration to disqualify the favorite for the executive seat in the coming national polls.

Duterte further mentioned that while the full effort of the government was being used to remove his sister from her post, a lot of issues in the country have remain unresolved.

“How I wish as much energy and resources would be poured in to solving our countries real problems,” he said.

On Monday, 6 July, the Senate officially began hearings on the impeachment against the Vice President in relation to the Articles of Impeachment transmitted by the House of Representatives.

In the said document, Duterte was impeached based on allegations surrounding her unexplained wealth, misuse of confidential funds, bribery of public officials, and verbal threats towards high ranking public servants.

Notably, it was second time that the second highest official in the country was impeached from the House, being ousted in the lower chamber during the 19th Congress.