MANILA, Philippines — There is enough evidence to convict Vice President Sara Duterte, a lawmaker at the House of Representatives said on Saturday.
Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. said the vice president was "guilty already" and that "what the prosecution team has actually said was enough," said Abante at a News Forum in Quezon City.
Abante said Duterte’s alleged threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and former Speaker Martin Romualdez were sufficient to establish betrayal of public trust.
“Just the threat given by the Vice President is already enough. It is betrayal of public trust,” he said.
The prosecution has presented National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) witnesses on the grave threats allegations and two Commission on Audit state auditors on the alleged misuse of confidential funds, with OVP special disbursing officer Gina Acosta and former DepEd special disbursing officer Edward Fajarda among those expected to testify next week.
Abante, who endorsed the fourth impeachment complaint against Duterte along with Deputy Speaker Francisco Paolo Ortega V, said he intended to attend the trial more regularly to personally follow the presentation and testing of evidence.
“I am just a silent participant in the impeachment trial, but I will become active in this,” Abante said, adding that he planned to attend the proceedings every day to see what was happening.
He said lawmakers who endorsed the impeachment complaint should see the constitutional process through instead of backing away because of political pressure or possible electoral consequences, while respecting the Senate’s authority to try and decide the case.
“The prosecutors must prove the articles, the defense must be heard, and the senator-judges must render the verdict,” Abante said.
