Vice President Duterte Challenges Accusers: “Where is the Evidence?”

Vice President Duterte Challenges Accusers: “Where is the Evidence?”

By Bing Jabadan – TheNATIONWEEK.com | October 14, 2026

MANILA, Philippines – Vice President Sara Z. Duterte today issued a scathing statement, directly challenging her accusers and denouncing what she termed “political theater disguised as accountability” amidst ongoing impeachment proceedings and contentious national budget debates.

In a direct rebuke to attorney Lorna Kapunan, who reportedly labeled a defense counsel a “bully,” Vice President Duterte stated, “Calling a defense counsel a bully is like calling David the aggressor against Goliath. It is a convenient way to vilify the person defending against an overwhelming display of political power.”

Duterte’s statement intensified, detailing alleged coercive tactics against her office: “You threatened, intimidated, and hauled OVP personnel to detention. You initiated impeachment with allegations but failed to establish them with compelling evidence. You wielded the subpoena powers of the House of Representatives yet failed to produce what was needed to substantiate your accusations. You then brought the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate, seemingly hoping that the impeachment trial would somehow compensate for what was missing from the outset.”

She then posed a pointed question to her accusers: “After all that, where is the evidence?”

The Vice President simultaneously raised serious concerns about the unfolding 2027 national budget deliberations, stating, “Allegations of cash distribution and political maneuvering surrounding the 2027 national budget raise troubling questions. Is the budget being used to serve the Filipino people, or has it become a bargaining chip to pressure senators who will sit as judges and reward those who vote ‘yes’ in the House of Representatives?”

Duterte unequivocally defended the role of legal counsel: “The defense counsel is simply doing her job. Since 2023, the defense team has devoted countless hours preparing for this case, sacrificing sleep, family time, and peace of mind to study documents and prepare their defense.”

The Vice President stressed the public’s right to genuine accountability, not political spectacle. “The public deserves better than political theater disguised as accountability. If impeachment and the national budget are being used as instruments of political survival for the corrupt, then it is the people—not the defense counsel—who are being taken for granted.”

She concluded with a forceful call for consistency and integrity: “So spare us the arrogance and the name-calling. A defense counsel does not become a bully simply because she refuses to let your accusations go unchallenged.”

In a direct challenge to broader governance, Duterte added: “And if accountability is truly your battle cry, apply it consistently—even to the President, who is firm that a drug habit is not about accountability.”

Vice President Duterte’s statement culminated in a demand for substance over showmanship: “Evidence, not arrogance. Genuine accountability, not political persecution.”

*             *             *

Your support fuels our fearless journalism.

To advertise with us, please contact us today at: nationweek@yahoo.com

You can also make a donation via GCash at: +639267015155.