Vice President Sara Duterte's camp questioned the cost of the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte after the House prosecution panel withdrew three of the four impeachment articles, claiming that the expenses may have exceeded P1 billion.
In an interview on Damdaming Bayan on Wednesday, October 14, Vice President Duterte's spokesperson Atty. Paolo Panelo criticized the prosecution’s decision, saying it deprived Duterte of the opportunity to answer the allegations against her before the Senate impeachment court.
“Para sa amin hindi makatarungan 'yon kasi dineprive mo si VP Sara ng proseso, panahon at pagkakataon na sagutin ito sa impeachment court,” Panelo said.
He added that withdrawing the articles would not erase the allegations from the public’s mind, even if Duterte would no longer have to face them in the ongoing trial.
Panelo also questioned the financial cost of the proceedings, estimating that the Senate impeachment trial alone costs around P25 million per day, or approximately P500 million in total.
He said the estimate did not include lawyers’ fees, consultants, content creators, and other expenses allegedly incurred in connection with the proceedings, as well as the earlier hearings before the House Justice Committee.
“Ang tingin ko dito is mahigit isang bilyon, mahigit na ang nagagastos nila for the impeachment para dito sa mga articles na iaatras lang din pala,” he said.
Panelo also drew a comparison between the alleged expenses of the impeachment proceedings and the accusations involving Duterte’s confidential funds.
“Yung ginastos na pera dito e parang mas malaki pa ho doon sa sinasabi na nilustay daw ni VP Sara na confidential funds,” he said, adding that he believes the allegations against the Vice President would not be proven.
Panelo rejects prosecution’s claim that defense should be happy
Panelo also rejected the prosecution’s suggestion that the defense should welcome the withdrawal of the three impeachment articles, arguing that Duterte should have been given the opportunity to secure an acquittal based on the evidence and the law.
“Hindi po namin kailangan ng pabor ng prosecution para malaman na wala pong batayan yung Articles I, III and IV,” he said.
“Ang hindi kanais-nais doon sa pag-atras nila is tinatanggalan nila si VP Sara na ma-acquit sa mga articles na 'yon kung ebidensya at batas lang ang pagbabatayan ng Senate impeachment court,” he added.
The prosecution has decided to focus on the remaining Article II, which concerns allegations of unexplained wealth against Duterte, after dropping the three other articles involving alleged misuse of confidential funds, bribery, and grave threats.
Panelo questions Senate majority’s response
Panelo also questioned the apparent lack of public objection from senators in the majority over the withdrawal of the three articles, saying the time spent on the proceedings could have been devoted to other national concerns.
“Nagtataka ako bakit parang tahimik yung Senate majority, bakit hindi sila galit na nasayang yung oras nila, nasayang yung panahon nila,” he said.
He further speculated that the prosecution’s decision could be connected to its assessment of the votes needed to advance the impeachment proceedings.
“Ang tingin ko dito hindi sila titigil at 14 e,” Panelo said, suggesting that senators in the majority could eventually encourage their colleagues in the minority to stop pursuing further debate because they already have enough votes.
