Metro Manila, Philippines – Malacañang cast doubt on whether Vice President Sara Duterte would sign a waiver authorizing the release of her financial records, saying no member of the Duterte family has done so.
The remarks were in light of the vice president’s defense team opposing the House prosecution’s request for the Senate impeachment court to subpoena Duterte’s bank, Anti-MoneyPalace briefing on Thursday, July 16, , press officer Claire Castro responded to the defense argument that while no one is above the law, no one should also be denied its protection.
Castro said the most important principle in impeachment proceedings is truth.
“Ang sabi niya, ang magic word – hindi magic word ang impeachment, hindi magic wand ang impeachment. Pero ang magic word ay ‘truth,’” she said, referring to the word used by defense counsel Michael Poa.
[Translation: He said impeachment is not a magic word or a magic wand. But the real magic word is “truth.”]
She said the impeachment trial should focus on establishing the truth.
Castro also responded to the defense assertion that it has nothing to fear from the requested financial documents.
“Sabi niya kaya niyang magpakita ng dokumento, wala silang kinakatakutan. So kung walang kinatatakutan, obligasyon naman niya sa taumbayan ipakita ang katotohanan,” the official said.
[Translation: He said they can present documents and have nothing to fear. If they truly have nothing to fear, then they owe it to the public to show the truth.”]
“Mas magandang ipakita niya na wala siyang pagkakasala at wala siyang itinatag ng anumang isyu tungkol sa pondo ng bayan.,” Castro said.
[Translation: It would be better for her to show that she committed no wrongdoing and is hiding nothing involving public funds.]
Asked whether Duterte should sign a waiver authorizing the release of her financial records, Castro suggested it was unlikely.
“Mayroon na po ba tayong nakitang Duterte na nag-sign ng waiver? … I don’t think so. Hindi niya gagawin iyon,” she said.
[Translation: Have we ever seen Duterte sign a waiver? … I don’t think so. She won’t do that.]
