Metro Manila, Philippines – Malacañang said moves to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte should not be tied to the outcome of investigations into alleged anomalies in flood control projects, rejecting claims by some lawmakers that the absence of arrests of so-called “big fish” weakens the case for impeachment.
The Palace statement came after Navotas City Rep. Toby Tiangco said he will not support a renewed impeachment bid against Duterte, arguing that Congress has failed to hold alleged key figures in flood control anomalies accountable, including former AKO Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co.
Asked whether flood control issues were being used to justify positions on impeachment, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the two matters are unrelated.
“Kung sa ordinaryong pananaw, hindi naman po konektado ang flood control mess sa impeachment complaint kung isasampa man ito kay Bise Presidente,” Castro said.
[Translation: From a common-sense perspective, the flood control mess is not connected to any impeachment complaint that may be filed against the Vice President.]
“Iba po ang isyu ng kinapapalooban ng Bise Presidente at iba naman po iyong flood control projects,” she added.
[Translation: The issues involving the Vice President are separate from those involving flood control projects.]
Castro said lawmakers are entitled to their own opinions but stressed that impeachment decisions should not depend on the results of the flood control investigation.
“Hindi po dapat ini-equate, hindi siya dapat depende ang anumang desisyon patungkol sa impeachment complaint sa outcome ng pag-iimbestiga sa flood control projects,” she said.
[Translation: They should not be equated, and decisions on impeachment should not depend on the outcome of the flood control investigation.]
The Supreme Court earlier ruled that the impeachment complaint filed against Duterte was unconstitutional for violating the one-year bar rule, which expires on Feb. 6. Lawmakers critical of the Vice President have since said they may refile an impeachment complaint once the ban lapses.
The renewed impeachment effort centers on allegations of misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds during Duterte’s tenure as education secretary and later as Vice President.
Malacañang has consistently maintained that impeachment is a matter for Congress, but reiterated that it should be judged on its own merits and not linked to separate corruption probes.
