Duterte lawyers for Sara? It’s OK – Barbers

MANILA, Philippines —  There is no problem if former president Rodrigo Duterte will act as a lawyer for his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, in the three impeachment complaints filed against her before the House of Representatives, according to Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers.

“It is the right of anybody facing trial, like an impeachment complaint trial, to choose his own lawyer to represent him,” he told Teleradyo Serbisyo yesterday.

“That is guaranteed, not just by the Constitution, but also the rules of our Congress. I don’t see any problem with that,” he added.

Barbers, lead chair of the House quad committee, noted that congressmen and the House leadership have not yet discussed the impeachment complaints against the Vice President.

“I don’t know what are the discussions about those that were filed in Congress and what will happen when Congress opens its session. I don’t know anything about it,” he said.

The Vice President earlier said her father will help defend her in the legal storm she is expected to face in 2025.

Civil society groups led by Akbayan on Dec. 2, the progressive Makabayan bloc on Dec. 4 and a group of lawyers and priests on Dec. 19 filed impeachment complaints against Duterte.

The first complaint cited 24 Articles of Impeachment covering alleged violations of the 1987 Constitution, starting from when Duterte was Davao City mayor in 2007 up to the time she was elected Vice President in 2022 and served concurrently as education secretary.

Hiding from quad comm

Meanwhile, resource persons hiding abroad or suddenly declaring an illness after being invited to quad comm hearings has become a “trend,” Barbers said.

The quad comm is probing illegal Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) and extrajudicial killings that led to the deaths of over 30,000 people during the previous Duterte administration’s war on drugs.

Barbers cited Duterte’s presidential spokesman Harry Roque and his wife Myla, who were ordered arrested for contempt.

Roque and his wife have reportedly fled to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates after refusing to attend quad comm hearings.

The committee is investigating their involvement in illegal POGOs in Porac, Pampanga.

“We were surprised when we were informed that he already left the country. What is concerning is that we were informed by people, not by the Immigration itself,” Barbers said.

“That is now the trend. That is what is happening whenever Congress invites people, whatever agencies we are investigating. They are leaving the country. Those who have no capacity to leave the country are just hiding,” he noted.

The Bureau of Immigration earlier denied collaborating with Roque for their escape.

“We cannot deny that they are known personalities. They cannot easily leave the country without the help of their collaborators,” Barbers said.

Desperate maneuver

The Vice President’s move to tap her father as her lawyer was nothing but a desperate political maneuver to evade accountability for her misuse of confidential funds, Makabayan said yesterday.

“Instead of directly answering the questions on her misuse of confidential funds, she is now hiding behind her father. This is clearly a desperate attempt to rally political support following her declining satisfaction ratings,” said Rep. France Castro of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers.

“The Vice President seems to assume her father is free to defend her, forgetting that he himself faces potential charges for violations of international humanitarian law, whether in local courts as per the quadripartite committee’s recommendation or at the International Criminal Court,” said Rep. Arlene Brosas of Gabriela.

“This father-and-daughter legal team-up is nothing but political theater. What VP Sara should do is answer allegations of malversation and stop doing a political spectacle,” said Rep. Raoul Manuel of Kabataan.

Patronage, not charity

The Dutertes’ annual gift-giving activity on Christmas is just a form of political patronage disguised as charity, which they are using for political gain, farmers’ group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) said yesterday.

At least 40,000 people participated in the “Pahalipay sa Taal 2024” attended by the Vice President.

Packs containing rice, canned goods, cash and gift checks were distributed.

“It should not be celebrated as a noble act of public service. Rather, it should be exposed as a calculated maneuver to perpetuate their dynastic rule and manipulate the poor for political leverage,” KMP chairman Danilo Ramos said.

Dole-outs cannot cover the growing demand for accountability over the Vice President’s alleged misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds and abuse of political power, he noted.  –  Emmanuel Tupas