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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider VP Sara downplays fresh impeachment raps: 'A piece of paper without evidence'

VP Sara downplays fresh impeachment raps: 'A piece of paper without evidence'

Published Feb 7, 2026 12:08 pm
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 who filed the case, "does not have any credibility" to do so.
Duterte said the move to oust her from the move is "no longer new," as it was the same move that her political rivals did after she departed from 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 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 the Akbayan does not have any credibility to endorse or submit an impeachment complaint, noting that their 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.
Duterte is facing two fresh impeachment cases. The second one was endorsed by Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Representative Leila de Lima and Akbayan Party-list Representative Perci Cendaña."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 (Let's not forget Risa Hontiveros' historic speech in August 2024, when she clearly laid out the true motive of Akbayan as a group):
'Habang ang anak niya ay may kapangyarihan pa, hindi magiging madali ang ating laban (While her daughter is still in power, our fight will not be easy). While VP Sara is in power, the threat of a full-blown Duterte comeback is still a very real and present danger. For one, they are supported by one major superpower, China,'" she said.
The Vice President said it is only clear that the impeachment complaint is a "form of harassment and abuse of the impeachment process" by the Akbayab.
"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 (It's not clear what they are fighting. But their politicking and their interference with our country's diplomatic affairs are very clear)," she said.
"Sa huli, ang tunay na laban ay hindi lamang laban ng iisang tao o iisang grupo—ito ay laban para sa katotohanan at sa dangal ng ating bansa (In the end, the real struggle is not just the fight of one person or one group—it is a fight for the truth and for the dignity of our nation)," she added.
She hoped that her words would become a reminder that the power of impeachment must not be used as a political weapon but a sacred process for justice and accountability.
"Sapagkat kapag nanaig ang abuso, ang tunay na talunan ay ang sambayanang Pilipino (Because when abuse of power prevails, it's the Filipino people who will suffer)," she said.

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