Sara Duterte slams plunder case, warns public to be more discerning
Vice President Sara Duterte addressed the plunder and graft complaints filed against her and 15 others, claiming they are a scheme intended to cover up for corruption. She also warned the public to be more discerning of such attacks.
"Mga kababayan, Last year, the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability launched a full-blown fishing expedition, searching for anything that could be twisted into grounds for impeachment," she wrote in a statement on Saturday.
She claimed that signatures for her impeachment were being solicited in exchange for budget allocations.
"Several lawmakers themselves recently confirmed how the constitutional process was being cheapened and reduced to a marketplace," she continued.
Duterte said that "another fishing expedition" is being launched to find any made-up charge to make the process look legitimate.
"Hinihikayat ko ang ating mga kababayan na maging mapanuri at huwag basta magpapadala sa mga paninira. Hindi ito tungkol sa paghahanap ng katotohanan—ito ay tungkol sa pagtakip ng nakawan sa kaban ng bayan na hanggang ngayon ay walang nananagot," she said.
"Patuloy lamang tayong maging matatag sa harap ng pagbagsak ng ekonomiya at walang tigil na pagtaas ng presyo ng mga bilihin. Patuloy tayong magdasal para sa kapayapaan," Duterte continued, adding that the Office of the Vice President "will continue to deliver efficient, accessible, and responsive public service for the good of all Filipinos."
On Dec. 12, plunder, bribery, graft, and malversation were filed against Duterte and officials from the OVP and the Department of Education, including Duterte's chief-of-staff Zuleika Lopez, OVP assistant chief of staff Lemuel Ortonio, Director Rosalynne Sanchez of the OVP Administrative and Financial Services Office, Chief Accountant Julieta Villadelrey, OVP Special Disbursing Officer Gina Acosta, former commander of the AFP Security and Protection Group Colonel Raymund Dante Lachica, former DepEd spokesperson Michael Poa, OVP Strategy Management Office Director Sunshine Fajarda, former Education Undersecretaries Annalyn Sevilla and Gloria Mercado, DepEd chief accountant Ma. Rhunna Catalan,DepEd Special Disbursement Officer Edward Fajarda, Retired Major General Nolasco Mempin, and Lieutenant Colonel Dennis Nolasco.
The complaint stemmed from the alleged "irregular" and "unsupported" use of the P612.5 million in confidential funds by the OVP under Duterte.
