Vice President Sara Duterte slammed the latest impeachment complaint endorsed by Akbayan, calling it a “piece of paper” without any attached evidence to substantiate the allegations.
“Hindi na ito bago. Matatandaan na ang impeachment laban sa akin ang naging sagot nila sa aking pag-alis sa Gabinete—isang hakbang na isinagawa dahil hindi na maipaliwanag ng Pangulo ang patuloy na pagkalugmok ng bayan sa kahirapan dulot ng kanyang kapabayaan at bisyo,” Duterte said in a video message posted on her Facebook page.
She recalled that during the 19th Congress, her critics and political opponents opened an “investigation in aid of legislation” not to craft laws, but to conduct what she described as a clear “fishing expedition” for a planned impeachment against her.
“Paulit-ulit nilang ibinabandera ang isyung ‘Mary Grace Piattos’ bilang umano’y bahid ng katiwalian, kahit na sa kabila ng lahat ng imbestigasyon ay wala silang naipakitang kahit isang direktang paglabag sa paggamit ng confidential funds,” she said.
Duterte added that this was followed by the alleged buying of signatures for her impeachment and the so-called “for later release projects” that were supposedly promised to some members of the House to push the complaint—claims she said were later admitted by several lawmakers in their statements.
According to the Vice President, Akbayan has no credibility to endorse or file an impeachment complaint, alleging that the group’s leader, Senator Risa Hontiveros, has repeatedly declared her intention to run for president—an indication, she said, of the political motives behind the move.
“Huwag nating kalimutan ang makasaysayang talumpati noong Agosto 2024 ni Risa Hontiveros, kung saan malinaw niyang inilahad ang tunay na motibo ng Akbayan bilang isang grupo,” Duterte said.
“Kaya malinaw na lahat ng ito ay isang uri ng harassment at pang-aabuso sa proseso ng impeachment ng grupong Akbayan. Hindi malinaw kung ano ang ipinaglalaban nila para sa kaayusan ng bayan, pero napakalinaw ng kanilang pamumulitika at pagpapahirap sa usaping diplomasya ng ating bansa,” she added.