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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Impeachment complaint fundamentally defective — VP Sara's defense team

Impeachment complaint fundamentally defective — VP Sara's defense team

Published Mar 18, 2026 05:44 pm
Vice President Sara Duterte (OVP)
Vice President Sara Duterte (OVP)
The position of the defense team of Vice President Sara Duterte in her impeachment complaint remains unchanged after yet another move from the House of Representatives to elevate her case.
Michael Poa, spokesman for Duterte's defense team, maintained their belief that "the [impeachment] complaints suffer from a fundamental defect."
Poa's statement came after the House Committee on Justice declared "sufficient in grounds" the impeachment complaints against Duterte, triggering a trial proper. But even at this stage, he said, such a finding "is merely preliminary" and "is not a determination of truth, nor is it a finding of liability."
"They are built on conclusions, speculation, and narratives that are not anchored on the ultimate facts required under the Constitution and the Rules," Poa added.
He also said that what is now "being advanced are accusations in search of evidence, not evidence in support of accusations."
House members made the move after saying Duterte's camp failed to address allegations in their answers ad cautelam that they submitted before the House panel.
Poa, in a radio interview on Tuesday, March 19, said that in their answers, they only raised two points that questioned the alleged "double standards" that House members applied during the deliberations on Duterte's impeachment case as compared to that of President Marcos.
The Duterte camp had repeatedly said that the impeachment complaints were politically motivated.
"Ultimately, the process must be governed not by any political agenda, but by the Constitution, the rules, and credible and competent evidence. On that basis, the defense stands on firm ground," Poa said.

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Vice President Sara Duterte Sara Duterte Michael Poa impeachment
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