Vice President Sara Duterte attends the attends the House quad committee hearing on the alleged drug war killings during the administration of her father former president Rodrigo Duterte, November 13, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Harlene Delgado

<div><br/></div><div><br style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"/></div><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/173518487105720241113-duterte-quadcomm-hearing-MT-8 (1).jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Vice President Sara Duterte attends the attends the House quad committee hearing on the alleged drug war killings during the administration of her father former president Rodrigo Duterte, November 13, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA <strong>(UPDATED) </strong>— A lawmaker said Thursday he believes there would be no problem should former President Rodrigo Duterte stand as one of Vice President Sara Duterte&#x27;s lawyers in her impeachment complaints.</p><p>The younger Duterte said that Wednesday her father volunteered to be part of her legal team as &quot;a collaborating counsel for all cases.&quot;</p><p>Both Dutertes are lawyers</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2024/12/25/ex-pres-duterte-to-stand-as-lawyer-for-vp-sara-in-impeachment-woes-1719">Ex-Pres. Duterte to stand as lawyer for VP Sara in impeachment woes</a></div><div><strong>&#x27;IT IS HER RIGHT&#x27;</strong></div><p>Surigao Del Norte Second District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers said anyone who is facing trial has the right to choose legal counsel.</p><p>&quot;Karapatan naman ng kahit sinong humaharap sa isang trial lalo na itong impeachment trial ang pumili ng kanyang abogadong magdidipensa sa kanya and that is guaranteed by not just the Constitution but the rules ng ating Kongreso,&quot; he said in a TeleRadyo interview.</p><p>(Anyone facing a trial has the right to choose their lawyer. That is guaranteed not just by the Constitution, but also by the rules of the House)</p><p>Barbers is one of the co-chairs of the Quad Comm holding hearings into issues related to the the Duterte administration, including the war on drugs.</p><p>The lawmaker clarified that there has been no talk of impeachment yet at the lower chamber.</p><p>&quot;Hindi pa naman pinag-uusapan ang impeachment dahil hindi pa, kahit sa ‘min sa Kongreso wala pang usapan tungkol diyan. So I don&#x27;t know kung anong mga usapin tungkol diyan sa mga nai-file sa Kongreso. Ang mangyayari, pagbukas ng Kongreso. Hindi ko alam &#x27;yan,&quot; Barbers said.</p><p>(We have not talked about impeachment, so I don&#x27;t know about any developments there or what will happen when we come back from break)</p><p>The Vice President is facing <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2024/12/19/3rd-impeachment-complaint-sara-duterte-1245">three impeachment complaints</a> filed by progressive groups, civil society organizations, lawyers and religious groups. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2024/12/22/vp-sara-duterte-s-trust-rating-dips-12-points-in-november-poll-0952">VP Sara Duterte&#x27;s trust rating dips 12 points in November poll — Pulse Asia</a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2024/12/3/palace-distances-from-impeachment-raps-vs-vp-sara-duterte-0942">Palace distances from impeachment raps vs VP Sara Duterte</a></div><div><strong>MAKABAYAN BLOC: &#x27;DIVERSIONARY TACTICS&#x27;</strong></div><p>The Makabayan bloc, whose members have endorsed one of the three complaints, meanwhile criticized the former president&#x27;s inclusion in Vice President Duterte&#x27;s legal team, calling the move &quot;nothing but a desperate political maneuver to evade accountability for her misuse of confidential funds.&quot;</p><p>ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro acknowledged that Vice President Duterte is within her rights but also called it &quot;a desperate attempt to rally political support&quot; if the impeachment complaints proceed.</p><p>&quot;Pagdating ng trial makikita naman doon talaga kung ano &#x27;yung magiging katotohonan,&quot; she said on Teleradyo Serbisyo.</p><p>(Anyway, the truth will come out at trial)</p><p>The complaints have been received by the House secretary-general but have yet to be transmitted to Speaker Martin Romualdez&#x27;s office. They have also yet to be read on the floor nor referred to a committee.</p><p>Gabriela Party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas said the Dutertes should instead be mindful of their accountability on alleged crimes committed under the bloody drug war of the previous administration. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2024/12/18/quad-comm-recommends-criminal-raps-vs-ex-president-duterte-bato-go-over-alleged-ejks-1847">House recommends criminal raps vs ex-President Duterte, Bato, Go over alleged EJKs</a></div><p>&quot;This father-and-daughter legal team-up is nothing but political theater,&quot; Kabataan Party-List Rep. Raoul Manuel said.</p><p>The three-seat bloc further urged the vice president to &quot;stop the diversionary tactics&quot; and &quot;face the allegations head on&quot;.</p><p>Vice President Duterte has denied allegations of the misuse of confidential funds allocated to her office in 2022 and 2023, saying the controversy is part of an attempt to lower her chances in the 2028 presidential elections.</p>

<p>A lawmaker said Thursday he believed there would be no problem should former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte stand as one of Vice President Sara Duterte's lawyers in her impeachment complaints.</p>

A lawmaker said Thursday he believed there would be no problem should former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte stand as one of Vice President Sara Duterte's lawyers in her impeachment complaints.

Lawmaker sees no problem with ex-Pres. Duterte joining VP Sara's legal team vs impeachment | ABS-CBN

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Lawmaker sees no problem with ex-Pres. Duterte joining VP Sara's legal team vs impeachment

Lawmaker sees no problem with ex-Pres. Duterte joining VP Sara's legal team vs impeachment

Harlene Delgado

Published Dec 26, 2024 11:52 AM PHT

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Updated Dec 26, 2024 02:38 PM PHT

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Ace Barbers

Rodrigo Duterte

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Kokoy Villamin

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Bongbong Marcos

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