VP Sara downplays fresh impeachment raps

Vice President Sara Duterte, on Saturday, Feb. 7, described the fresh impeachment complaint filed against her as nothing but "a piece of paper without any evidence", as she said that Akbayan, one of those which filed the case, "does not have any credibility" to do so.

- By JOSEPH PEDRAJAS and ELLSON QUISMORIO

Duterte said the move to oust her from her position is "no longer new", as it was the same move that her political rivals made after she left President Marcos' Cabinet.

It was a move taken "because the President could not explain the further collapse of the country due to neglect and vices," she added.

"Noong 19th Congress, binuksan pa nila ang isang “investigation in aid of legislation” hindi upang lumikha ng batas, kundi upang magsagawa ng isang malinaw na fishing expedition para sa planadong impeachment laban sa akin (In the 19th Congress, they even opened an 'investigation in aid of legislation' not to create a law, but to conduct a clear fishing expedition for a planned impeachment against me)," the Vice President said in a video message, the first time she spoke out since the filing of a fresh impeachment case 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 (They repeatedly brandish the 'Mary Grace Piattos' issue as an alleged sign of corruption although, despite all the investigations, they failed to show even a single direct violation regarding the use of confidential funds)," she added.

After that, the Vice President claimed, House members allegedly started selling their signatures for her impeachment in exchange "for later release projects" that were allegedly promised to them.

Some House members even admitted it during interviews, she said.

Duterte said Akbayan did not have any credibility to endorse or submit an impeachment complaint, noting that its leader, referring to Senator Risa Hontiveros, "has repeatedly expressed her interest in running for the President." It proves that the move is only "politically-motivated," she added.