Metro Manila, Philippines – Vice President Sara Duterte accused the Marcos administration of weaponizing criminal cases and putting political pressure to silence her and her allies, as she addressed supporters following her court appearance in Quezon City on Friday, Sept. 11.
Duterte portrayed the cases against members and allies of her family, as well as her impeachment proceedings, as part of what she claimed was a broader effort by the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to suppress its political opponents.
“Ang ginagawa niyang pilit na pagpapatahimik sa ating lahat. Makikita ninyo ang kaso na kanilang ipina-file sa iba’t ibang kaalyado natin. Makikita ninyo ang pagha-harass sa mga senador,” Duterte said.
[Translation: They are trying to silence all of us. You can see the cases being filed against our various allies. You can see what I believe is the harassment of senators.]
Duterte said senators have been pressured in connection with efforts to remove her from office.
“Halos ubos na ang ating mga senador para lang matupad ang kanilang kagustuhan na impeachment,” she said.
[Translation: They are going after our senators just to achieve what they want with the impeachment.]
The vice president did not substantiate her claims.
Senators Rodante Marcoleta and Jinggoy Estrada are detained over plunder charges while Senator Bato Dela Rosa is in hiding over an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court in relation to the Duterte administration drug war.
Senator Loren Legarda, who is part of the minority, remains abroad for medical leave while Senators Alan and Pia Cayetano are in Singapore amid a probe on Taguig reclamation projects and the 2019 SEA games.
Duterte also questioned the impeachment proceedings against her, and that Congress was an instrument to build a case for her removal from office.
“Ang totoong drama ay ang mag-file ng impeachment na walang ebidensya. Gagamitin ang Kongreso para maghanap ng ebidensya. Babastusin ang Konstitusyon para lang matanggal ang Duterte sa gobyerno,” she said.
[Translation: The real drama is filing an impeachment case without evidence, then using Congress to look for evidence. The Constitution is being disregarded just to remove a Duterte from the government.]
Duterte delivered the remarks after appearing before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court over three counts of grave threats, the same charge she is facing in the Impeachment Court for threatening to kill the president, first lady, and then House speaker if she herself were killed.
The Palace has denied claims that government institutions were being used against the vice president.
