Palace to Dutertes: Stop politicizing impeachment trial

MANILA, Philippines — Palace press officer Claire Castro on Tuesday lashed out at Vice President Sara Duterte and her brother, Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte, for their continued accusations that the administration is using the impeachment to prevent her presidential run in 2028. “If the Vice President can prove that she has not committed any impeachable offense, nothing can stop her from running and aspiring to become the country’s president in the next election,” Castro said. Castro was reacting to Mayor Duterte’s interview in The Hague where he claimed that those behind his sister’s impeachment want to remain in power. Castro urged the Duterte siblings to stop politicizing the impeachment trial. “The Senate is simply adhering to what the Constitution mandates – the process. That process ought to be respected, and the process itself should not be politicized,” the Palace official said. “It is her obligation as Vice President to answer the accusations against her... There is no politicking involved here, the impeachment trial is mandated by our Constitution,” she said. Castro also hit back at Baste Duterte over his accusations that the administration is “abusive” and is selectively prosecuting critics. “Under the administration of President Marcos Jr., power is being exercised correctly and in accordance with the law, unlike in the past,” Castro said. “Let us remember that punching a sheriff who is merely performing his duties constitutes a true abuse of power.” In June 2012, the Office of the Ombudsman reprimanded then Davao City mayor Sara Duterte for repeatedly punching a court sheriff who tried to implement a court order to demolish shanties. House Deputy Speaker Janette Garin denounced what she called the bullying and personal attacks against prosecutors that taint the public discourse on the ongoing impeachment trial against Vice President Duterte. She urged the public to focus on the evidence being presented instead of ridiculing prosecutors over their appearance. “I was surprised how we went to that low level of discourse,” Garin said, referring to social media posts of Duterte supporters that ridiculed lead prosecutor Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro over visible saliva while delivering the prosecution’s opening statement. Also a target was prosecution counsel Amando Virgil Ligutan, who appeared to have a runny nose during the presentation of evidence. Garin, who served as a former health department chief, also rejected claims circulating online that saliva or colds are signs of dishonesty. “Never in the history of the medical community has colds or sipon been a cause of lying,” she said, adding that the attacks divert attention from the issues being tried before the Senate impeachment court. Describing the online ridicule as bullying, Garin said the prosecution panel was simply performing its constitutional duty. She urged the public to stop spreading misinformation and return the discussion to the merits of the impeachment case. For his part, House prosecutor Manila Rep. Joel Chua said appearing before the impeachment court is physically demanding, recalling that prosecutors were initially not allowed to bring drinking water into the session hall. — Daphne Galvez, Bella Cariaso