MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte’s spokesman Salvador Paolo Panelo Jr. on Wednesday accused the Marcos administration of deliberately “twisting the law” because it could not defeat the Vice President in a fair impeachment process or in the 2028 elections.
Panelo made the accusation after the Senate impeachment court lowered the conviction threshold from 16 to 14 votes.
“They are deliberately twisting the law because they cannot defeat VP Sara in a fair fight, whether in the impeachment or in the 2028 elections. They are doing this because they are trying to evade their impending accountability for the wrongs they have committed against the Filipino people,” Panelo said in a statement.
Panelo said the Senate court’s decision was a violation of the Constitution and Duterte’s right to due process, adding that the court had consequently lost its “legal and moral authority” to continue the impeachment case.
He said Duterte’s participation in the trial would be ad cautelam, or with reservation of rights, while the Defense pursues all available legal remedies.
