Sara Duterte: Unlike Jejomar Binay, I was impeached

Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday said her experience as the country’s second-highest official is nothing compared to former vice president Jejomar Binay, as she was impeached.

“Wala si [Jejomar] Binay sa akin dahil hindi siya umabot sa impeachment. Not once, but twice. I claimed that sikat na sikat na kahit nasa ibang bansa na, ang iniisip si Inday Sara pa rin,” Dutert told the media.

(Binay and my experience as vice president are different because he was not impeached. Not once, but twice. I claimed to be famous because even in other countries, people still think of me.)

Duterte made the statement as she shared her response to her friends, who compared the challenges she is facing to those experienced by Binay.

Binay served as vice president from 2010 to 2016 under the administration of former president Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III.

In 2015, Binay accused Malacañang of having a hand in the possible impeachment procedure against him in connection with the alleged anomalies in Makati City during his stint as mayor.

However, Binay was not formally impeached or subjected to an impeachment trial.

Meanwhile, Duterte is undergoing an impeachment trial for alleged misuse of public funds, unexplained wealth, and assasination threats.

The Senate Impeachment Court is currently tackling Article 2 of the Articles of Impeachment on the unexplained wealth of the Vice President.

The Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) confirmed that a company linked to the Vice President and her husband received P319 million from China and Hong Kong, of which P315.93 million came from Mainland China, while P3.39 million was from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China.

In response, Duterte questioned the allegations and asked if doing business with China is prohibited.

"So ano ba talaga? Bawal ba talaga amg negosyo with China kasi it is a national security risk. Parang nakakahiya na nga yung drug haul na papuntang Pilipinas galing Lao and Thailand tapos eto pa tayo na nagsasabing na naku it’s a national security risk na mag negosyo with China. Nagiging troublemaker of Southeast Asia tayo," Duterte said.

(So what is it, then? Is doing business with China really prohibited because it poses a national security risk? It’s already embarrassing that we have a drug shipment bound for the Philippines from Laos and Thailand, and now we’re saying that doing business with China is a national security risk. We’re becoming the troublemaker of Southeast Asia.)

Duterte made the statement during the 91st anniversary of the Office of the President, where she honored employees of the agency.

“Kayo ay public servants, government employees. And therefore your focus should be public service. Para sa aming mga politiko, ewan ko, hindi ko alam ko,” Duterte said.

(You are public servants, government employees. Therefore, your focus should be public service. As for us politicians, I don’t know. I really don’t know.) — RSJ, GMA News