Davao Mayor Baste Duterte Reacts To Sister VP Inday Sara’s Impeachment Trial
BASTE DUTERTE – The youngest son of former President Rodrigo Duterte reacted to the impeachment trial of his sister, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte.
The Senate has started the impeachment trial of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte on Monday, July 6. According to Senator Chiz Escudero who presides the Senate impeachment court, 16 votes remain as the threshold to convict VP Sara. Both the prosecution and the defense have started presenting their arguments.
Vice Pres. Sara Duterte is faced with several accusations including the supposed misuse of the confidential funds of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) as well as the confidential funds of the Department of Education (DepEd).
Four (4) impeachment complaints were filed against Vice Pres. Duterte this year. The House of Representatives’ Committee on Justice declared the two (2) complaints as sufficient in form, substance, and grounds.
Here are some of the grounds raised against the Vice President in the impeachment moves against her:
- Alleged culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust, and other high crimes in amassing and converting the amount over PHP 500 million confidential funds (CF) allocated to the Office of the Vice President from 2022 to 2023
- Alleged culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust, and other high crimes in amassing and converting the amount of not less than PHP 112.5 million of confidential funds allocated to the Department of Education (DepEd) for the year 2023
- Alleged culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust by corrupting and bribing officials of the DepEd
- Alleged culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, and other high crimes in contracting to murder or assassinate the president, the first lady, and the former speaker of the House
- Alleged culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust in amassing unexplained wealth and failing to disclose all her properties and interests in properties in her SALN
- Alleged culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust in committing acts of political destabilization and the high crimes of sedition and insurrection
On Tuesday, July 7, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte came to the Senate but did not attend her impeachment trial. Instead, she met with her legal team. Recently, her younger brother, Davao Mayor Baste Duterte, was asked about the impeachment moves against the Vice President.
“Ako hindi ako nanonood kasi you know, nung simula pa lang, when this impeachment campaign begin, it was what three years ago, even nung simula pa lang nung termino ni Marcos ‘yan, ‘yung nagkalabuan na, andyan na ‘yang usapang impeachment against Vice President,” the Davao Mayor said.
Davao Mayor Baste Duterte claimed that the government is allegedly just adding any accusation that they can against his sister. Based on the post, the youngest son of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte claimed that the detractors of his sister allegedly wants to remain in power.
“Gusto nila na may impeachment para masunod ‘yung gusto nila. It’s not about really the Vice President defending herself but it’s about putting her sa lugar kung saan nila gusto na nandiyan siya. Kaya nga nila ini-insist ang impeachment na ‘yan kasi they want to remain in power. Gusto nila sila. ‘Pag pumayag ‘yung mga tao, wala na kaming magawa,” he said based on the post.
Mayor Baste Duterte also slammed the Marcos Jr. government over the arrest of Sen. Rodante Marcoleta and other opposition and critics of the government.