MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio on Tuesday challenged the apparent certainty expressed by some lawmakers that her impeachment will proceed, warning that such confidence from elected officials raises serious questions about impartiality and due process.
Speaking in an interview in The Hague, Duterte-Carpio said public opinion is understandable but stressed that pronouncements from members of Congress and the Senate carry greater implications.
“Kung ordinary individuals lang naman ‘yan, like ordinary Filipinos, pabayaan na natin yan. Kasi ‘yan naman ‘yung opinion nila, ‘yan naman ‘yung damdamin nila, hindi mo naman mababago ang nararamdaman ng isang tao,” Duterte-Carpio said.
“But it is different siguro kapag congressman na ‘yung nagsasabi or senator na ‘yung nagsasabi kasi magtatanong ka, bakit sobrang sigurado ka na tapos na ito?” she added.
Her remarks came amid growing public and online speculation that the impeachment case against her is already headed for the Senate, following developments in the House of Representatives.
Duterte-Carpio also refused to weigh in on claims by a member of the House justice committee that securing enough votes to impeach her would be easy.
“Well, hindi ako maka-comment sa kanyang mga nalalaman kasi hindi ko alam kung ano ‘yung alam niya,” she said.
The House Committee on Justice earlier approved a report recommending the filing of articles of impeachment, paving the way for deliberations at the plenary level.
The complaints against Duterte-Carpio include allegations of misuse of confidential funds, unexplained wealth, and threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his family. The vice president has denied all accusations./PN
