Rodrigo Duterte to become one of VP Sara's lawyers in impeachment complaints
Vice President Sara Duterte will receive some help from her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, against the three impeachment cases she is facing as he is set to join her legal team.
Sara told reporters that Rodrigo would serve as one of the lawyers in the three impeachment cases filed against her at the House of Representatives.
"Sabi niya na, since hindi ko tatanggapin 'yung pera, mag-lawyer siya para sa akin. So sinabi niya, he will be a collaborating counsel for all cases. He'll be one of the lawyers for all the cases," she said.
She added that her father is now preparing his documents at the Integrated Bar of the Philippines so that he could sign as a lawyer of good standing.
Sara has been in hot water for months for the alleged misuse of funds for her offices' programs and her refusal to answer questions regarding her offices' expenses, particularly the confidential funds worth P775 million for the OVP and DepEd during her budget proposal's first hearing.
She was seeking a P2.037-billion budget for 2025, which was cut to P733 million. Her office has a P1.885-billion budget for 2024.
Adding fuel to the fire was her press briefing where she revealed that she had contracted a hitman to assassinate President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., his wife Liza, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez if she were killed.
"May kinausap na ako na tao. Sinabi ko sa kanya, 'Pag pinatay ako, patayin mo si BBM, si Liza Araneta, at si Martin Romualdez. No joke. No joke,'" Sara said in response to a commenter wishing for her safety. "Nagbilin na ako, Ma’am. 'Pag namatay ako, 'wag ka tumigil hanggang hindi mo mapapatay sila.' And then he said yes."
Following this, several groups decided to file impeachment cases against her.
The first complaint was filed by civil society organizations, religious groups, and families of tokhang victims on Dec. 2 and endorsed by Akbayan party-list Rep. Perci Cendaña. The second one, meanwhile, was submitted by activists, teachers, former congressional members and others on Dec. 4 and endorsed by Makabayan lawmakers France Castro, Arlene Brosas, and Raoul Manuel.
The third case was filed on Dec. 19 by religious groups, legal professionals, and non-governmental organization workers and was endorsed by Camarines Representative Gabriel Bordado Jr. and AAMBIS-OWA Representative Lex Colada.
Despite these hurdles, Sara assured the public that she and her office "will not break" amid the "ongoing crisis" they are facing.
"We assure the Filipino people that even in times of crisis and without resources, we shall stand tall, strong, and resilient in our service to the Filipino people. We will not break," she stated.