Dennis Gasgonia

Article (news)

Jervis Manahan

ABS-CBN News

QUEZON CITY— House prosecution panel spokesperson Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong said Saturday that Vice President Sara Duterte&#x27;s answer to the Articles of Impeachment were all &#x27;rehashed&#x27;. In a 51-page document dated May 25, 2026, Vice President Sara Duterte insisted that the impeachment proceedings are void since it was done in &quot;bad faith and manifest partiality.&quot;&quot;It only confirms our initial observation that the defense could not provide particular counter evidence or defense to challenge or even contest the allegations contained under the Articles of Impeachment,&quot; Adiong told reporters in a news forum on Saturday. <div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/27/sara-duterte-says-impeachment-raps-void-for-being-tainted-with-partiality-bad-faith-1356">Sara Duterte says impeachment raps ‘void’ for being ‘tainted with partiality, bad faith’</a></div>&quot;From the very start they have been harping about procedural objections, constitutional objections, which all of us know, we&#x27;re past that already,&quot; he added.Duterte answered the Articles of Impeachment point-by-point, saying she did not violate the constitution in all four Articles of Impeachment, which includes misuse of confidential funds and unexplained wealth. She asserted that she cannot be charged based on the Notice of Disallowances of the Commission on Audit that were not yet final, and that there was no element of graft and corruption in her confidential fund issue.&quot;Even the most basic elements of graft and corruption cannot be sustained because the confidential funds were lawfully obtained upon the recommendation of the Department of Budget and Management and approval of the Office of the President,&quot; she said.She also asserted that bribery of Department of Education officials cannot be established as there are no evidence that the money came from her, or that she used it to influence their procurement process.An earlier summary of the answer has been provided by her defense team.&quot;Kulang talaga yung kanilang pwedeng maioffer sa korte, this is also in opposite to what we&#x27;ve heard during the press conference that they conducted, that they are ready to face and answer the allegations at the proper venue,&quot; Adiong said. &quot;The answer they have provided to the court is just the same rehashed claim that everything is void because everything from the beginning, they&#x27;re questioning the constitutionality by which the impeachment was initiated,&quot; he added.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/25/court-sheriff-vp-duterte-punched-in-2011-listed-as-prosecution-witness-in-impeachment-trial-1943">Court sheriff VP Duterte punched in 2011 listed as prosecution witness in impeachment trial</a></div>Duterte even cited &quot;freedom of expression&quot; to defend herself on the allegation of grave threats she made towards the President.The fourth Article of Impeachment dwells on the &quot;grave threats&quot; made by Duterte against Marcos Jr, First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, and then House Speaker Martin Romualdez. Duterte insisted this does not constitute a threat since she was only answering a question from a reporter.&quot;There is no threat because the respondent merely answered a reporter who asked her about a certain Operation Romanov against her and her family. Her response was neither a factual assertion of any actual threat nor with intent to do with any harm,&quot; Duterte&#x27;s answer read. &quot;All lawyers would agree that there is no absolute freedom, all freedom is subject to some regulation. One cannot go into the streets accusing one without necessary consequence of that action,&quot; Adiong said.&quot;The threat as we have seen during the press con, direct threat sa Presidente,&quot; Adiong said.BIR BOXThe prosecution meanwhile said they are still hoping that the BIR box containing the tax records of the President will still be marked even during when trial is already ongoing. The defense team opposed the opening of the BIR box during the pre-trial conference.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/25/prosecution-to-present-mary-grace-piattos-as-witness-in-vp-sara-impeachment-trial-1212">Prosecution to present &#x27;Mary Grace Piattos&#x27; as witness in VP Sara impeachment trial</a></div>&quot;Kung ito ay mabubuksan, makikita natin, that would give us clear financial picture kung ano ang lawful income ng Bise Presidente. Hindi magsisinungaling ang laman ng box na yan,&quot; Adiong said. In a statement, Atty. Michael Poa of Duterte&#x27;s defense team said only the Impeachment Court can resolve this.&quot;First and foremost, it must be emphasized that the Clerk of Court does not have the authority to rule on any motion made by either of the parties. Such matters are solely for the Impeachment Court to resolve,&quot; Poa said.<div> </div><div>  </div>

House prosecution panel spokesperson Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong said Saturday that Vice President Sara Duterte's answer to the Articles of Impeachment were all 'rehashed'.

House prosecution panel spokesperson Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong said Saturday that Vice President Sara Duterte's answer to the Articles of Impeachment were all 'rehashed'.

Prosecution says Duterte's answer to impeachment 'rehashed'

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Prosecution says Duterte's answer to impeachment 'rehashed'

Jervis Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 27, 2026 04:53 PM PHT

Read More:

Prosecution

Defense

Impeachment

Sara Duterte

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