Two House leaders on the Committee on Justice denied allegations that lawmakers were promised funding in exchange for supporting the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte.
Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro, the panel chair, said she was unaware of any such arrangement, rejecting claims made by Navotas Rep. Tobias Tiangco.
“Ano daw kapalit? Wala akong alam na kapalit (What did they say the exchange was? I don’t know anything about any exchange),” Luistro said.
“I’ve been working on this… to come up with an orderly proceeding, an organized proceeding, and of course a decision which will be acceptable to the people… based on the evidence presented,” she added.
Luistro stressed she views the proceedings as part of her constitutional duty.
“I don’t know anything na tinutukoy ni Cong. Toby Tiangco na kapalit ng aming nagiging judgment… For me… talagang I see this as my constitutional duty that I should be able to discharge,” she said.
Manila Rep. Joel Chua, who has been active in the hearings, also denied the allegation.
“Unang una, hindi ko alam kung saan nanggagaling ‘yung allegation ni Cong. Toby…but just the same…umuusad pa rin po itong impeachment complaint (First of all, I don’t know where that is coming from),” Chua said.
“So ang mga congressman naman po, they will vote based on their conscience, based on evidence,” he added.
Chua said the committee’s discussions are supported by evidence and have been publicly scrutinized during televised proceedings.
He noted that issues surrounding the alleged mishandling of P612.5 million in confidential and intelligence funds by the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education remain unresolved.
“Lahat naman po ng iprinisenta is backed by evidence at saksi naman dito ang taong bayan… ‘yung mga issue na hanggang ngayon na mga katanungan… hanggang ngayon hindi pa rin mahanap kung nasaan,” Chua said, referring to alleged fund recipients.
(Everything we presented is backed by evidence, and the public themselves are witnesses to this… those issues that remain unanswered until now… up to this day, they still cannot be found.)
He also cited unresolved questions on a reported P1-million safe house and testimonies from Armed Forces of the Philippines personnel on fund disbursements.
Chua said the impeachment process offers the Vice President a chance to clear her name ahead of the 2028 presidential elections.
“Yung impeachment process, it is a test of character and conduct of a public official… once you are acquitted, tatakbo ka na wala kang extra baggage… this is actually the right opportunity for her to clear her name,” he said.
