The camp of Vice President Sara Duterte questioned the apparent silence of senators in the majority following the House prosecution panel’s decision to withdraw three of the four impeachment articles against Vice President Sara Duterte.
In an interview on Damdaming Bayan on Wednesday, October 14, Vice President Duterte's spokesperson Atty. Paolo Panelo wondered why the senators had not expressed greater concern over the time spent on proceedings involving charges that the prosecution eventually decided not to pursue.
“Nagtataka ako bakit parang tahimik yung Senate majority, bakit hindi sila galit na nasayang yung oras nila, nasayang yung panahon nila,” Panelo said.
He argued that the time spent on the withdrawn articles could have been devoted to addressing the country’s pressing concerns.
Panelo also speculated that the prosecution’s decision could affect how senators from the majority and minority approach the remaining proceedings.
“Ang tingin ko dito hindi sila titigil at 14 e,” he said, suggesting that senators in the majority might eventually tell their colleagues in the minority not to continue pushing for further proceedings because they already have enough votes.
The prosecution recently dropped three impeachment articles involving allegations of misuse of confidential funds, bribery, and grave threats, opting to focus on Article II, which concerns alleged unexplained wealth involving Duterte.
The defense has criticized the move, arguing that the withdrawal deprived the Vice President of the opportunity to answer the allegations and seek acquittal on the basis of the evidence presented before the Senate impeachment court.
The prosecution, meanwhile, has defended its decision to concentrate on the remaining article, saying the move would allow the proceedings to focus on one issue and save time and resources.
