Palace on NUP unlikely voting in favor of VP Sara's impeachment: It's their decision
Vice President Sara Duterte and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro (Manila Bulletin/RTVM)
Malacañang maintained its distance from the impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte, brushing off the decision of the National Unity Party (NUP) for leaning towards not voting for the impeachment of the country's second-highest official.
"Decision po nila iyan (That's their decision)," Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said when sought for reaction on Thursday, Feb. 26.
Castro said the party has the freedom to decide on whether or not to support the impeachment case against Duterte, President Marcos' former ally turned rival.
"May kalayaan po silang mag-decide. Hindi naman po sila sinasaklawan ng ating Pangulo at ng administrasyon na ito (They have the freedom to make their own decision. Our President and this administration are not imposing on them)," Castro said.
"Kung ano po iyong desisyon nila, malamang iyon po yung nakikita nilang magiging magandang aksyon para sa kanilang political party (Whatever decision they make is likely what they see as the best course of action for their political party)," Castro added.
The NUP earlier said they will mostly not vote in favor of the impeachment complaint, stressing that they had not seen "the inclusion of new and material evidence that would warrant a departure from issues that have already been the subject of prior inquiries and extensive public hearings."
However, the NUP said it remains prepared to assess any new evidence presented during the deliberations.