Malacañang urged Vice President Sara Duterte to support her responses to allegations with evidence after she accused the Marcos administration of using political maneuvering and other tactics to undermine her.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro made the statement Saturday after Duterte dismissed allegations that she received money from former police corporal Rodulfo Gracioso Jr., who claimed to have served as security head of former House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco.
“Uulit-ulitin natin para tumimo sa isipan (Let’s repeat it over and over so it sinks in). She needs to level up her defending skills so she can appear credible, if only for once,” Castro said in a statement.
Duterte had described the allegations as “political maneuvering, propaganda, (and) manufactured distractions” and said the latest claims were “nothing more than another media stunt, an attempt to breathe life into a faltering impeachment case.”
She also accused the Marcos administration of becoming “desperate” and “increasingly diabolical” in allegedly seeking to remove her, pursue Charter Change, prevent the 2028 elections and remain in power.
Gracioso has alleged that he delivered cash-filled suitcases to Duterte and members of her family on Velasco’s instructions. He claimed the deliveries to the vice president totaled more than P2 billion over more than 20 occasions. The National Bureau of Investigation is looking into the allegations.
Duterte has denied knowing Gracioso or receiving money from him. She said her lawyers were awaiting an official copy of his affidavit from the NBI before pursuing cases against him.
Castro said Duterte should respond directly to the allegations before criticizing others for their arguments.
“She should learn the definitions of red herring and ad hominem fallacies so she can recognize her mistakes in arguing,” she said.
Castro also maintained that the Senate, which is sitting as the impeachment court in Duterte’s case, has its own constitutional mandate and jurisdiction over the impeachment trial.
“This will be the real scenario. Our Constitution will be rendered futile if the Filipino people begin to defend acts of corruption of their nefarious political idols, or if they normalize the unlawful execution of innocent people under the guise of ‘dispensing justice,’” Castro said.
The House prosecution panel has separately said the allegations involving Gracioso should be taken seriously and could be relevant to the unexplained wealth allegations in Duterte’s impeachment case.
Photo courtesy of Inquirer.net
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