New delhi: Malaca±ang on Friday urged Vice President Sara Z. Duterte to face the cases filed against her and defend herself, instead of claiming that there was 'drama' in the impeachment proceedings against her. Speaking to reporters at the Philippine Embassy in New Delhi, India, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro emphasized that there is no shortcut to the justice system, adding that the filing of cases against the Vice President and her allies was based on evidence and subject to due process.
According to Philippines News Agency, Castro stated, "Wala naman po talagang drama sa pagsasampa ng mga kaso sa inyo. Kung may ebidensya, ang DOJ (Department of Justice), ang Ombudsman, ang mga investigating bodies, lahat po dinadaan po ito sa ebidensya (There was really no drama in filing cases against you. If there is evidence, the DOJ, the Ombudsman, and the investigating bodies all base their actions on evidence)." She emphasized that the process respects due process and does not take shortcuts, especially under the leadership of President Marcos Jr.
Castro dismissed Duterte's claims that the administration was using extrajudicial killings in pursuing cases against her. She challenged the Vice President to personally answer the allegations against her, particularly those involving the use of confidential funds and other expenditures. "Matagal na po kayong hinihintay, Bise Presidente, na magbigay ng inyong depensa. Pero nananatili po kayong nasa likod ng inyong mga lawyer (We have been waiting for you for a long time, Vice President, to present your defense. But you continue to stay behind your lawyers)," she said.
Castro further urged Duterte to directly deny the allegations, stating that people want her to refute all the receipts issued under different names, which were not even mentioned as aliases. Additionally, she refuted Duterte's claim that the administration was ignoring the country's recurring flood problems, stressing that it is pursuing both short- and long-term solutions. Castro advised the Vice President to focus on the persistent flooding in Davao City, where her family continues to hold key local and congressional posts.
