The House prosecution panel on Tuesday, July 7, rejected Vice President Sara Duterte's characterization of herself as a victim in the ongoing impeachment trial, asserting that the true victims are the Filipino people who were allegedly deprived of essential public services due to the questionable use of confidential funds and unexplained wealth.
The remarks during a press conference ahead of the second day of Duterte's impeachment trial. To which the latter told reporters, "In this bloodbath and bludgeoning, I will be bloodied but unbowed."
Responding to a question on whether the prosecution views Duterte as the victim in the proceedings, House prosecution adviser Robert Ace Barbers said the Vice President has the right to express her feelings but stressed that her statement does not address the allegations against her.
"I think that phrase was taken from the Invictus, kung di ako nagkakamali. And of course, it's her right to issue that kind of statement. Perhaps that's the way she feels. Pero again, it will not be an answer to all the allegations being thrown at her," Barbers said.
"So ngayon, ang pagkakataon... pag nandyan ang ebidensya, tingnan ang ebidensya, suriin ang ebidensya, pakinggan natin itong ebidensya at diyan ang magiging basehan ng ating mga hukom o ng ating mga senator-judges pagdating ng panahon," Barbers added.
House Prosecution Team Spokesperson Renee Co likewise clarified that the impeachment case seeks accountability for the benefit of the public, arguing that ordinary Filipinos are the ones who have suffered from the alleged misuse of government funds.
"Para po malinaw, ang biktima dito ay ang taong-bayan. Ang biktima ay ang mga hindi nabigyan ng sapat na serbisyo—sana nabigyan ng mas maraming classrooms, ng scholarships, ng serbisyong pang-edukasyon o kaya naman pangkalusugan, na sana napunta doon ang pera, but instead it went to the confidential and intelligence funds," Co said.
She added that key questions surrounding the alleged confidential fund expenditures and the Vice President's purported unexplained wealth remain unanswered.
"Up until now, hindi pa rin nasasagot kung nasaan siya. Up until now, hindi natin na-account for kung bakit may unexplained wealth in the billions na lumabas-pasok sa accounts ni VP Sara. And we're here today and magpo-proceed hanggang matapos para malaman at, siyempre, magbigay [ng] hustisya sa mga biktima na ang taong bayan," she said.
Co also emphasized that beyond the financial allegations, the impeachment proceedings aim to ensure accountability and put an end to what she described as a culture of violence in governance.
The House prosecution panel continues to present its case before the Senate impeachment court, maintaining that the evidence—not public statements—will determine the outcome of the trial.
