Former President Rodrigo Duterte will be one of the lawyers of Vice President Sara Duterte in the three impeachment cases filed against her at the House of Representatives, she said on Christmas Day.
In a media interview during their family’s traditional “Pahalipay sa Pasko,” an annual gift-giving activity, VP Duterte disclosed plans for her father to join her legal team.
“Sabi niya na, since hindi ko tatanggapin iyong pera, mag-lawyer siya para sa akin. So sinabi niya, he will be a collaborating counsel for all cases,” she told reporters in her hometown of Davao City.
“He’ll be one of the lawyers for all of the cases, and he is preparing his documents ngayon sa IBP (Integrated Bar of the Philippines),” the Vice President added.
According to Duterte, they did an inventory of cases based on media reports and interviews by various government agencies, including the House of Representatives, the Department of Justice (DOJ), the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Each case would have a specific lawyer to handle it, the Vice President shared.
Duterte is facing three impeachment complaints, the most recent of which was filed only last week.
She disclosed that it was during their family’s Christmas Eve dinner that her father offered to help after expressing concern about the status of her impeachment cases.
Despite the former president’s concern, the Vice President said she’s confident because she did not break the law.
“Well, I’m confident that I did not break any law. I did not do anything illegal,” the official said.
About 50,000 people trooped to the ancestral home of the Duterte family during the annual gift-giving on Dec. 25 at Central Park Subdivision in Bangkal, Davao City.
Residents received food packs, cash and gift check, and other gifts, while Duterte herself participated in games and raffles alongside comedians and hosts.
The former Chief Executive delivered a heartfelt Christmas message reflecting on the spirit of the season, and thanked the Davaoeños for their continued support.
“Not only did you support and help me, but you also carried on my political aspirations through my children,” he said in the local dialect. (Raymund Antonio)
