Vice President Sara Duterte’s camp has questioned the prosecution’s withdrawal of two articles of impeachment, with spokesperson Atty. Paolo Panelo alleging that the proceedings wasted hundreds of millions of pesos in public funds.
In a statement, Panelo said 20 days of trial had been allotted to Article I, which involved alleged misuse of confidential funds, and Article IV, which concerned grave threats.
Panelo estimated that Senate operations during the 20-day period cost about ₱500 million. He said the total expenses could exceed ₱1 billion when other costs related to the hearings and case preparation are included.
He argued that the prosecution should be held accountable for using public funds on charges that were later withdrawn. Panelo also questioned the silence of the Senate majority on the matter.
Panelo further claimed that withdrawing the two articles deprived Duterte of the opportunity to answer the allegations and obtain an acquittal through a decision by the Senate Impeachment Court.
He also expressed suspicion that the decision to expedite the trial was connected to the 2028 elections.
The statements reflect the position of Duterte’s camp regarding the withdrawal of the two impeachment articles and the costs associated with the proceedings.
Panelo’s figures were presented as estimates, and the statement did not provide a detailed breakdown of the expenses cited.
The allegations concerning the trial’s costs, the prosecution’s decision and the possible political implications were raised by Panelo. No response from the prosecution or the Senate majority was included in the provided statement.
The controversy centers on the withdrawal of the two articles, the reported cost of the proceedings and the effect of the decision on Duterte’s opportunity to respond to the accusations.
