MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio’s camp has accused House prosecutors of potentially wasting more than P1 billion in taxpayers’ money on three impeachment charges they eventually abandoned, challenging the Senate majority to explain its silence over the alleged massive expenditure of public funds.
In a statement sent to Panay News on Wednesday, Duterte-Carpio’s spokesperson Paolo Panelo demanded accountability from the prosecution panel, questioning why senators appeared unperturbed by the withdrawal of charges after weeks of impeachment proceedings.
Panelo claimed that approximately 20 trial days were spent examining evidence involving the alleged misuse of confidential funds and grave threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his family before prosecutors decided to drop the charges.
The prosecution had yet to present its case on the separate bribery allegation when it was similarly withdrawn.
“That is approximately P25 million in Senate operating cost per day, or P500 million of taxpayers’ money, consumed on charges that will never be voted on,” Panelo said.
He argued that the estimated P500-million expenditure represented only the Senate’s operating costs and excluded compensation and other expenses involving lawmakers who participated as prosecutors, spokespersons or guests during the proceedings.
Panelo claimed that the combined public expenditure associated with the three abandoned impeachment articles could exceed P1 billion, although he provided no detailed financial breakdown or supporting records to substantiate the estimate.
The figures have not been independently verified.
Panelo also questioned why members of the Senate majority had not publicly raised stronger objections to the prosecution’s decision, arguing that the time and resources devoted to the abandoned charges could have been used to address more pressing national concerns.
“Hindi ba nasayang ang oras ninyo? Hindi ba kayo nanghihinayang na nagamit sana ang panahon para tugunan ang mga kritikal na pangangailangan ng bansa? Hindi ba kayo nagagalit na nagwaldas ang prosekusyon ng perang kasing laki o mas malaki pa sa confidential funds na linustay diumano ni VP Sara, na hanggang ngayon at kailanman ay hindi nila mapapatunayan? Who is going to hold them accountable?” Panelo said.
He further raised suspicions that political calculations surrounding the 2028 presidential elections could have influenced the prosecution’s decision to narrow the impeachment case against Duterte-Carpio.
Panelo questioned whether the withdrawal was intended to accelerate a possible conviction and disqualification of the vice president from seeking public office.
“So why the quiet? Is it because the goal to disqualify the leading presidential candidate in 2028 justifies the means? Is it because the numbers for conviction are already locked in under the lower threshold? Is it because a longer trial risks shifting those numbers, making a faster resolution preferable? Is it because convicting the Vice President earlier may reduce the damage to Senator-Judges seeking elective posts in 2028? The silence is deafening. Huwag naman kayong masyadong halata.”
“Where is the outrage?” he added.
Panelo did not present evidence establishing that electoral considerations motivated the prosecution’s withdrawal of the charges.
Beyond the alleged financial implications, Panelo maintained that the decision deprived Duterte-Carpio of the opportunity to defend herself against the abandoned accusations and secure a formal acquittal before the Senate impeachment court.
“More than that, it deprived her of the vindication of the acquittal she deserves if the Court ruled only on the basis of evidence and law,” he said.
The Senate impeachment court, presided over by Senate President Francis Escudero, earlier accepted the House prosecution panel’s request to withdraw three of the four impeachment articles against Duterte-Carpio.
The abandoned charges involved the alleged misuse of confidential funds from the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education, alleged bribery of education officials, and alleged grave threats against Marcos and his family.
With the withdrawal accepted, senator-judges will no longer vote on those charges under the court’s existing ruling, while the defense will not be required to present evidence specifically addressing them.
The court also relaxed restrictions on public discussion of the merits of the abandoned allegations.
The impeachment proceedings will now concentrate on Article II, which accuses Duterte-Carpio of accumulating unexplained wealth, failing to properly disclose assets in her Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth, and retaining business interests despite constitutional restrictions.
Duterte-Carpio and her camp have repeatedly denied the allegations, maintaining that the impeachment case is politically motivated and intended to undermine her possible presidential candidacy in 2028.
A conviction by the Senate impeachment court could result in her removal from office and disqualification from holding future public office.
The prosecution’s decision to abandon three articles has consequently narrowed the impeachment case to a single charge, even as Duterte-Carpio’s camp presses questions over the public funds allegedly spent pursuing accusations that will no longer be decided by the court./PN
