Metro Manila, Philippines – Vice President Sara Duterte questioned the role of House prosecutor Terry Ridon in her impeachment trial, citing his previous consultancy with the Davao City government during her term as mayor and raising a possible conflict of interest.
Duterte said she had long known that Ridon worked for the city government but deliberately held back the information because she wanted him to disclose the engagement himself.
“Hindi ko lang nilabas kasi gusto ko na sabihin ni Terry Ridon mismo na meron akong conflict of interest dito dahil nagtrabaho ako bilang consultant sa city government of Davao,” Duterte said.
[Translation: I did not disclose it because I wanted Terry Ridon himself to say that there is a conflict of interest here because he worked as a consultant for the city government of Davao.]
Duterte said Ridon was brought in to help with the local government’s poverty alleviation programs after he was recommended by a Davao resident.
She alleged, however, that Ridon failed to submit work or an accomplishment report during the consultancy.
“Walang sinabmit yan na trabaho. Walang sinubmit yan na accomplishment report. Wala,” Duterte said.
[Translation: He did not submit any work. He did not submit any accomplishment report. Nothing.]
Duterte also said the City Treasurer’s Office had records showing a lump-sum consultancy payment was remitted to Ridon’s Land Bank of the Philippines account.
She said a review of consultants conducted during her time as mayor eventually led the city government to remove Ridon from the consultancy.
“Noong mayor ako nito, nakita namin, oh, na this person, walang ginawa, tumanggap ng pera. Alisin na yan dyan,”
[Translation: When I was mayor, we found that this person did nothing but received money. Remove him.]
No conflict of interest
Ridon rejected Duterte’s allegations and denied that his previous work for the city government creates a conflict with his role as a House prosecutor.
He confirmed that he provided policy consultancy services on poverty alleviation but said he was approached by one of Duterte’s advisers for the engagement.
“I was never a personal adviser to then-Mayor Sara Duterte. The engagement had nothing to do with the matters now before the Senate Impeachment Court,” Ridon said in a statement.
Ridon also disputed Duterte’s claim that he did not perform work for the city government.
“We performed the work required under the engagement and submitted the corresponding reports to the City Government,” he said.
Ridon said the consultancy was never subject to an audit disallowance more than six years after the engagement ended.
“So what exactly is the supposed conflict of interest?” he said.
Ridon said his responsibility as a prosecutor is to present evidence before the impeachment court, which will determine the merits of the allegations.
“The prosecution will not be distracted from the continuing presentation of evidence under Unexplained Wealth,” he said.
