VP Duterte allies: Junk impeachment

CEBU, Philippines — In a growing show of defiance against the impending impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, the DDS Sara All Confederation and Duterte’s legal defense team issued separate but aligned statements Monday, denouncing the process as unconstitutional, politically motivated, and designed to derail her rising influence ahead of the 2028 elections.

At a press conference held at a hotel in Cebu City, leaders of the DDS Sara All Confederation called for the immediate dismissal of the impeachment complaint, describing it as tainted by irregularities and manipulated by vested political interests.

“This impeachment should be buried. It is nothing but a political maneuver disguised as due process. We have information pointing to large payoffs to lawmakers to support the articles of impeachment. That alone discredits the entire proceeding,” said Atty. Glenn Chong, the group’s legal adviser.

The group—composed of Duterte-aligned grassroots leaders and former political candidates—expressed alarm that the Senate is pushing the trial under Resolution No. 39, even as the 19th Congress nears adjournment. They warned that carrying the impeachment into the 20th Congress would leave a “legacy of division.”

Also present at the press conference were Engr. Dior Gavino, national co-convenor; Wendell Martin A. Cabrera and Ed Trinidad, national advisers; Dr. Josephus P. Grengia, Visayas convenor and former Moalboal mayoral candidate; and Christine G. Takahashi, Cebu province convenor and former Lapu-Lapu City mayoral candidate.

“We, the DDS Sara All Confederation, call on the Senate and the Filipino people to see through the noise and reject this attack on the Vice President. The case is built on hearsay, bribery, and personal vendettas,” said Cabrera.

In his welcome address, Grengia rallied Duterte supporters to unite and resist what he described as attempts to undermine democratic institutions by targeting the Vice President.

“We believe that the impeachment complaint is politically motivated. It is meant to remove a strong contender in 2028,” Grengia said.

Cabrera also questioned the legitimacy of the process, citing reports that lawmakers were bribed to sign the complaint.

“There are reports that lawmakers were paid to sign the complaint. That alone casts doubt on the entire process,” Cabrera said.

He invoked the legal principle of the “fruit from the poisonous tree,” asserting that tainted processes inevitably yield tainted outcomes.

Chong argued that the impeachment should be rendered moot once the 19th Congress ends.

“The complaint must be concluded within the current Congress. The 20th Congress is a new body with a fresh mandate. The prosecution cannot carry over,” he said, warning that proceeding beyond June 30 would be unconstitutional.

He also questioned the focus on Duterte's alleged misuse of ?125 million in confidential funds, comparing it to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s office’s reported use of over ?4.5 billion.

“Why focus on the smaller amount while ignoring the larger one?” Chong asked. “This is a clear double standard.”

Chong and other speakers defended the use of confidential funds by the Office of the Vice President, stating that all liquidations met minimum legal requirements and transparency rules.

Separately, Duterte’s legal defense team issued a statement in response to calls for the Senate to immediately begin the trial.

“We deem it proper to refrain from commenting on matters that are exclusive and internal to the Senate,” the statement read.

“However, we reiterate our firm position that the initiation of the impeachment process—particularly the Fourth Impeachment Complaint—suffers from serious constitutional infirmities,” the team said.

The team emphasized that impeachment must not be weaponized to silence or eliminate political opponents and warned against turning constitutional processes into tools of political warfare.

Still, Duterte’s legal team said it is ready to face the proceedings.

“Should the Senate choose to proceed, we stand ready to confront the charges and expose the baselessness of the accusations against the Vice President,” the statement concluded.

The House of Representatives earlier transmitted seven articles of impeachment to the Senate, which include:

•An alleged plot to assassinate President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and Speaker Martin Romualdez, purportedly acknowledged by Duterte in a live broadcast

•Graft and corruption involving ?612.5 million in confidential funds

•Bribery and unexplained wealth

•Conspiracy to commit high crimes, including extrajudicial killings during her tenure as mayor of Davao City

•Political destabilization through public threats and statements

•Betrayal of public trust through conduct in office

Despite the gravity of the allegations, Duterte’s allies remain confident.

“We are confident that truth will prevail. VP Sara Duterte remains focused on serving the nation and will rise above these politically charged accusations,” said Trinidad. — (FREEMAN)