DAVAO City Vice Mayor J. Melchor Quitain Jr. expressed confidence that the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte will be dismissed.
Speaking to reporters at Emperor Naruhito's birthday celebration at SMX Convention Center in Davao City on February 13, 2025, Quitain said he remains hopeful that the charges against Duterte will not prosper.
“We have functioning courts here in the Philippines,” the vice mayor said. “I don't want to preempt whatever judgment that will come out, but I am still very hopeful all of this will be dismissed,” he added.
He added that political conflicts, such as impeachment, are distractions the country does not need.
“Right now, we don’t need this in the country. We need to look at the economy, and look at other more important issues out there,” the official said.
The vice mayor also reaffirmed his support for Duterte, saying he is rallying behind her and praying for her.
The House of Representatives approved Duterte’s impeachment on February 5, 2025, just before a four-month break leading to the national and local elections.
However, this does not immediately remove her from office, as the Senate trial is set to begin in June.
Quitain noted that there are differing legal opinions on how the impeachment process was conducted, emphasizing that only the Supreme Court can rule on its constitutionality if challenged. RGL