Sara Duterte has no defense to prosecution's allegations --House leaders

Vice President Sara Duterte wants her impeachment trial stopped because she has no defense against the prosecution's allegations, House leaders said Friday.House Deputy Speaker Janette Garin of Iloilo, as well as prosecutors Joel Chua of Manila and Terry Ridon of Bicol Saro party-list were responding to the Vice President's statements that the government should stop playing politics and address the concerns of the Filipino people."Calling to stop all of this might be pointing to the fact na hindi ma-idepensa yung mga allegation doon," Garin said in a press conference.(She cannot defend herself from our allegations.)"This is not politicking because public office comes with responsibility and accountability. The government is not stopping its provision of services to those in need. Congress, Senate are working, but we cannot be selective in our tasks," Garin added.For his part, Chua said the public has long awaited the Vice President's explanation on how she disbursed her confidential funds and the billions of pesos in bank transactions reflected in records from the Anti-Money Laundering Council."She should answer that first before saying that this is about politics," Chua added.The prosecution presented the video of the Vice President's November 2024 press conference as evidence during the first week of the impeachment trial in support of Article 4 of the Articles of Impeachment which accuses the Vice President of culpable violation of the constitution, high crimes, and betrayal of public trust by contracting for the assassination of the President and his family members by making grave threats, and by actively inciting sedition against the republic. In the said video, the Vice President said "Huwag kang mag-alala, Ma'am, sa security ko, kasi may kinausap na ako na tao. Sabi ko sa kanya, kapag pinatay ako, patayin mo si BBM, si Liza Araneta, at si Martin Romualdez.(Don't worry about my security because I have already spoken to someone. I told that person that if I am killed, kill BBM, Liza Araneta, and Martin Romualdez.)"No joke, no joke. Nagbilin na ako, Ma'am. 'Pag mamatay ako, sabi ko, huwag ka tumigil hanggang hindi mo mapatay sila. And he said yes."The defense characterized the Vice President's response as justified, saying that there is a real kill plot against the Duterte family.Prosecutor Terry Ridon, however, said the defense's admission of the Vice President's threat to the President as justified shows that the prosecution has a solid case."We all saw the clear admission of the defense. The fact of the matter is they admitted that the Vice President made a threat," Ridon said."As to whether it is justified, it is up to the Senate impeachment court to appreciate," Ridon added. —LDF, GMA News