Makabayan bloc sees ‘desperation’ in Duterte’s bid to lawyer for Sara
Makabayan bloc members ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro (L), Gabriela Party-list Rep. Arlene Broses (C), and Kabataan Party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel (R). INQUIRER FILES
MANILA, Philippines — The Makabayan bloc is sensing “desperation” over the decision of former President Rodrigo Duterte to join the legal team of his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, who is facing impeachment complaints at the House of Representatives.
The coalition, which consists of representatives from progressive party-lists like ACT Teachers, Kabataan, and Gabriela, likewise said that such a move by Duterte could only be a mere diversionary tactic.
“Imbes na sagutin nang diretso ang mga tanong ukol sa pag-misuse ng confidential funds, nagtatago pa sa likod ng kanyang ama. This is clearly a desperate attempt to rally political support following her declining satisfaction ratings,” said ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro.
(Instead of directly answering questions about the misuse of confidential funds, she is hiding behind her father.)
READ: Rodrigo Duterte asks Davao folk: ‘Don’t abandon Dutertes’
Article continues after this advertisementGabriela Party-list Rep. Arlene Broses, meanwhile, said the Dutertes should mind and face their own crimes.
“The Vice President seems to assume her father is free to defend her, forgetting that he himself faces potential charges for violations of International Humanitarian Law, whether in local courts as per the Quadripartite Committee’s recommendation or at the International Criminal Court,” the Makabayan lawmaker said.
Kabataan Party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel, for his part, the former president’s decision as part of a political theater.
“Ang dapat gawin ni Vice President Sara ay sagutin ang mga alegasyon ng malversation at hindi ang gumawa ng mga political spectacle,” he said.
(What Vice President Sara should do is answer the allegations of malversation and not create political spectacles.)
READ: VP Sara Duterte slapped with 3rd impeachment complaint
The three lawmakers then urged Vice President Sara Duterte to “stop these diversionary tactics and face the allegations head-on.”
They said the Filipino people deserve nothing less than complete transparency and accountability from their public officials, especially concerning the use of public funds.
In an interview on Thursday, Vice President Sara Duterte confirmed that her father has signified his intent to be one of her lawyers for all her cases, including the impeachment complaints.
She said her father is now preparing the documents needed to join her defense team.
Three separate impeachment complaints have been filed against the vice president before the House of Representatives. However, none of these have been referred yet to the House committee on justice.
