After the Supreme Court nullified the impeachment case against her, Vice President Sara Duterte claimed on Monday, Aug. 11, that she has always been ready to face the accusations against her in the “proper forum” but not before members of the House of Representatives.
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Vice President Sara Duterte (MB File Photo)
The Vice President, on the sidelines of the Kadayawan Festival in Davao City, said that her camp has submitted everything that the Supreme Court asked from them since it’s the “proper forum and right venue.”
“Kung may kaso, sa tamang forum, mag-explain kami. Nagsabi kami noong nag-file sila ng articles of impeachment nila na ready ang defense team para sumagot sa accusations ng prosecutors ng House of Representatives (If there is a case, we will explain in the proper forum. We said when they filed the Articles of Impeachment that the defense team is ready to answer the accusations of the prosecutors of the House of Representatives),” she explained.
Duterte cited that when petitions were filed to nullify the impeachment case against her, they submitted what the Supreme Court had asked from them.
“Doon sa mga tamang forum at sa tamang venue, nagbibigay kami ng saktong sagot at nagbibigay kami ng explanation ng mga accusations (In the proper forum and right venue, we will answer accordingly and we will give explanations regarding the accusations),” she said.
“Pero hindi pwede na moro-moro kung saan lang nagbibigay ng akusasyon at kung saan at kung kailan lang nila gusto mag-akusa ng tao (But it shouldn’t be simply a charade where they will just throw accusations and when and to whom they want),” the official added.
Although a pending Motion for Reconsideration filed by the House of Representatives before the Supreme Court might revive the impeachment case against her, the Articles of Impeachment had been archived by the Senate in a plenary session last week.
This happened after a lengthy legal battle since she was impeached by the House of Representatives on Feb. 5 for betrayal of public trust for an assassination threat against President Marcos, his wife, and the House Speaker, betrayal of public trust and graft and corruption due to the misuse of public funds, and betrayal of public trust and bribery within the Department of Education (DepEd).
She is also facing charges based on the violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust due to unexplained wealth, commission of high crimes due to involvement in extrajudicial killings, betrayal of public trust due to alleged destabilization plots, and betrayal of public trust due to her unbecoming conduct as Vice President.