MANILA, Philippines – Indikasyon umano na walang matibay na legal na depensa sa alegasyon si Vice President Sara Duterte sa paulit-ulit nitong pagsasabi na siya ay nakararanas ng political harassment, kasunod ng ilang impeachment complaints na inihain laban sa kanya, ayon kay Mamamayang Liberal party-list Rep. Leila de Lima nitong Lunes, Pebrero 9.
Sa ambush interview matapos maghain ng panibagong reklamo laban kay Duterte, sinabi ni De Lima na ang pamumulitika ang maaaring kaya na lamang masabi ni Duterte dahil hindi niya masagot ang “substantive grounds” na tinukoy sa ikalawang reklamo.
Nitong weekend, sinabi ni Duterte na ang ikalawang impeachment complaint laban sa kanya na inendorso ng Akbayan ay “politically motivated” at hindi suportado ng ebidensya.
Sa pagbatikos sa Akbayan, sinabi rin ng Bise Presidente na layong tumakbo sa pagka-pangulo sa 2028 ang chairperson emeritus ng partido na si Senator Risa Hontiveros.
“Well, that’s the defense that she sees fit for her case, but claiming political harassment is not a legal statement legal defense […]. She cannot answer the substantive grounds laid down on the second impeachment which I also (endorsed),” pahayag ni de Lima na nag-endorso ng ikalawa at ikatlong reklamo laban kay Duterte.
“You can see that the complainants, the second and the third complainants, and even at the first complainants, they are private citizens. They are members of clergy. They are members of organizations and they have been into this, into their cause, into their campaign for accountability of highest officials of this country,” dagdag pa niya.
Tinanong din ni De Lima kung bakit si Hontiveros lamang ang pinag-iinitan nito gayong inendorso rin ni Cendaña ang kauna-unahang impeachment complaint laban kay Duterte noong Disyembre 2, 2024.
“So it’s not only Akbayan, not only Akbayan party-list Rep. Perci Cendaña who endorsed. And, of course, that was not endorsed by Senator Risa Hontiveros. And this was just a repeat of last year, because Rep. Cendaña was the only endorser of that second complaint last time, right?”
“So why is she only claiming political harassment now? Because her possible defense, legally speaking, will be shallow. That’s why she is attacking the political aspect of the whole case,” dagdag ni De Lima. RNT/JGC
