CONGRESSMAN Rodante Marcoleta said he would defend Vice President Sara Duterte if impeachment efforts against her proceed.
Marcoleta, during the PDP Christmas Caravan in Davao City on December 8, 2024, emphasized that he would act as Duterte's attorney, clarifying that he would not participate in the prosecution of the Vice President. He stressed that the impeachment lacks a valid basis and that he is committed to defending the rule of law.
“Subuk-subukan niyong i-impeach ang [If they try to] Vice President, I will suggest to her that she should engage me as her defense council (If they try to impeach the Vice President, I will suggest that she hire me as her defense counsel),” Marcoleta said during the Christmas 2024 Caravan and Meet and Greet hosted by the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP) at the Barangay Talomo Satellite Office in Royal Valley, Bangkal, Davao City, on Sunday morning, December 8, 2024.
He said the Office of the Vice President is still auditing its funds, so the findings are preliminary and can be contested or appealed. However, he noted that Duterte is already being treated as a criminal.
Marcoleta said he would await any legitimate basis for the impeachment before taking further action. He also pointed out that once an impeachment complaint is referred to the justice committee, it marks the beginning of the formal impeachment process against Duterte.
He also stated that if the government is truly concerned about confidential and intelligence funds, all relevant offices should be involved to ensure rules and regulations are followed. He explained that singling out one office suggests political motives and a personal attack on the individual.
“This is what’s happening to the Office of the Vice President, and I won’t stand for it,” he said. “The rule of law must be upheld.”
He added that 400 other government agencies also benefit from confidential funds, yet the OVP is the only one under investigation.
He questioned why the House of Representatives is overseeing audits, a responsibility assigned to the Commission on Audit (COA).
Marcoleta also revealed he had been removed from the justice committee, which is handling the impeachment proceedings, for speaking out about the rule of law.
An impeachment complaint against Duterte was filed in the House of Representatives on December 2, 2024, by religious leaders, sectoral representatives, and relatives of individuals killed in the drug war. It was endorsed by Akbayan Party-list Rep. Perci Cendaña.
Sara is under scrutiny due to an investigation by the House Committee on Good Government into alleged misuse of public funds by the OVP and the Department of Education during her tenure as secretary from 2022 to 2024.
The Vice President claims the investigation aims to tarnish her reputation and clear the way for House Speaker Martin Romualdez to run for president in 2028. RGP with reports from Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo. RGP with reports from Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo