Vice President Sara Duterte – at least in the last few weeks – has been conservative about giving comments related to her impeachment trial.

But on Monday, October 12, the Vice President dropped a fiery remark during the Office of the Vice President’s 91st anniversary. She said she believes the House prosecution team is rushing her impeachment trial because their case is faltering.

“Sabi ko nga kanina, sir. Sabi ko, bumabagsak na ‘yong kaso nila. Kaya binibilisan kasi wala na, wala na sila masabi. Nag-iimbento ka ng ebidensya. Sa simula pa lang, ‘yong impeachment complaint mo, walang annexes, walang attached pieces of evidence. Tapos gumawa ka, nag-i-invent ka ng ebidensya,” Duterte claimed on Monday.

(As I’ve said earlier, sir. As I’ve said, their case is falling apart. They’re rushing because they got noting, they have nothing to say. They’re inventing evidence. At the onset, in your impeachment complaint, you don’t have annexes, attached pieces of evidence. Then you are inventing evidence.)

Duterte is currently in the middle of her impeachment trial that could oust her from the vice presidency and bar her from running for president in 2028. The House prosecution team will soon wrap up its case because it will finish presenting evidence in three articles or allegations: grave threats, confidential funds, and alleged unexplained wealth.

The prosecution already dropped the bribery case, citing its “consciousness” of its impeachment timetable. But House prosecutor Jonathan Keith Flores said dropping it had nothing to do with the strength of the case.

Duterte, meanwhile, said her opponents were also pushing the allegations of self-confessed bagman Ramil Madriaga and the current claims of former cop Rodulfo Gracioso Jr. Both of these allegations, according to the Vice President, had already “collapsed.”

Madriaga executed affidavits tagging the Vice President in the Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGO) and confidential funds mess. Just last month, Gracioso alleged in his affidavit submitted to the National Bureau of Invesigation that he delivered millions of pesos to the Vice President when she was still the mayor of Davao City. 

Another fresh allegation against Duterte – in so far as her trial is concerned – is their alleged link of companies that do business with China. Senator-judge Risa Hontiveros, on October 6, revealed that Cale88 Food Corporation, linked to Duterte and husband Mans Carpio, received remittances from Chinese state-owned firms.

“Kaya nag-shift na ‘yong narrative to China-China naman tayo ngayon,” said Duterte.

“So ano ba talaga? Bawal ba talaga magnegosyo with China, kasi it is a national security risk? Parang nakakahiya na nga ‘yong drug haul na papuntang Pilipinas galing Laos and Thailand, tapos ito pa tayo na nagsasabi na ‘Naku, it’s a national security risk ang magnegosyo with China.’ Nagiging troublemaker of Southeast Asia tayo,” she added.

(That’s why the narrative shifted, we’re now on China allegations. So which is which? Can we not really do business with China because it’s a national security risk? It’s shameful because the drug haul went to the Philippines, from Laos and Thailand, and then now, we have this statement that “It’s a national risk to do business with China.” We’re becoming the troublemaker of Southeast Asia.)

“I don’t think the case is faltering. We are continuing… We will close the case today and we will wait for their evidence presentation,” said House prosecutor Terry Ridon.

The impeachment trial is far from over. Which also means the sub judice rule – the principle that bars parties and Duterte from publicly discussing the evidence of her trial – is still in effect. Remember, this is what kept the Vice President from talking about her case.

So did Duterte’s latest statements violate this rule?

“Tingin ko hindi naman na kailangan. Tingin ko tapusin na lang ho natin ‘tong proseso po na ito (I don’t think it would be necessary. I think we should just finish this case),” public prosecutor Terry Ridon said, when asked if the Vice President should be held liable for her latest statements. – Rappler.com