Duterte questions move to bar lawyers in impeachment case
Vice President Sara Duterte questioned moves to possibly bar two members of her legal team from representing her in the impeachment proceedings, saying she has never heard of a situation where a respondent is not allowed to choose their own lawyers.
Duterte said this following calls to remove lawyers Michael Poa and Reynold Munsayac from her defense team due to an alleged conflict of interest.
In an interview in Davao City on Saturday, March 14, the Vice President said this was the first time she had encountered such a situation.
“Ngayon ko lang narinig yung respondent ay hindi pinapayagan kung sino ang kanyang lawyers (This is the first time I’ve heard that a respondent is not allowed to choose their lawyers),” she said.
“Ngayon lang ako nakarinig ng circumstance na hindi pinapayagan ang respondent kung sino ang pinipili niyang lawyers (I’ve never heard of a circumstance where a respondent cannot choose their own lawyers),” she added.
The remarks came after Bicol Saro Party-list Representative Terry Ridon said the House Committee on Justice would examine the possible rejection of the entry of appearance of Poa and Munsayac as Duterte’s counsel.
Ridon earlier raised concerns over a potential conflict of interest, noting that Poa previously served as spokesperson of the Department of Education (DepEd) when Duterte was Education secretary, while Munsayac had been spokesperson of the Office of the Vice President and assistant secretary for procurement.
He added that their roles in matters under investigation — including issues related to confidential funds and procurement — could raise ethical and procedural concerns.
He said the panel may discuss a motion to reject their entry of appearance during its upcoming meeting.
Be cautious
Asked whether the move to bar her lawyers could be part of another “maleta” scheme — an ongoing scandal where money-filled suitcases are allegedly delivered to several lawmakers as bribes or kickbacks — the Vice President said the public should keep its eyes open.
“Antayin natin, tapos kunan natin ng picture (Let’s wait, then we’ll take photos),” she said.
“Tapos ilabas na naman natin ang pictures kung merong mga bagong maletas na lalabas (Then we’ll release the pictures again if there are new suitcases that appear),” she added.
‘Prayers and meditation’
Asked how she was coping with the issues surrounding her, the Vice President said she remains calm amid the controversy.
“Oh, I’m okay. Thank you,” Duterte said.
“Siguro prayers and meditation (Maybe through prayers and meditation),” she added.
‘I don’t take it personally’
Duterte also said she does not take political attacks against her personally.
“I don’t take it personally. Kasi para sa akin ba, yung ginagawa nila sa akin, personal yun sa akin. Bilang isang politician, natural na ganun ang gagawin sa iyo (I don’t take it personally. For me, what they are doing to me may be personal, but as a politician, that is something you expect),” she said.
“Pero ang ginawa nila sa bayan, yung corruption at yung abuso nila, hindi iyan personal sa akin. So hindi natin iyan palalampasin (But what they did to the country — the corruption and abuse — that is not personal to me. So we will not let that pass),” she added.