House trial spokesperson Zia Alonto Adiong of Lanao del Sur on Monday said the latest accomplishment report of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) does not address the serious allegations Vice President Sara Z. Duterte will face in her upcoming impeachment trial before the Senate.
“Maganda pong malaman ng publiko ang mga programang ipinatupad ng OVP. Pero hindi po iyon ang isyu sa impeachment case (It’s good for the public to know the programs implemented by the OVP. But that is not the issue in the impeachment case),” Adiong said in a statement.
“Ang mga alegasyon ay tungkol sa umano’y maling paggamit ng confidential funds, unexplained wealth, panunuhol, at pagbabanta laban sa Pangulo. Hindi po masasagot ng accomplishment report ang mga isyu na iyan (The allegations are about the misuse of confidential funds, unexplained wealth, bribery and threats against the President. These issues cannot be answered by an accomplishment report),” he added.
Adiong issued the statement after the OVP released an accomplishment report touting programs ranging from medical assistance and disaster response to free rides and the planting of more than 1 million trees during Duterte’s first three years in office.
In the report, Duterte said the OVP remained steadfast despite what she described as “baseless criticisms” and “systematic attacks” against her.
But Adiong said the impeachment trial set to begin on July 6 is where the Vice President should directly answer the accusations leveled against her.
“Kung totoong walang basehan ang mga paratang, ito na ang pagkakataon para malinaw niyang sagutin ang mga ito sa tamang forum at sa ilalim ng proseso ng impeachment (If the allegations are really baseless, this is now the opportunity to clearly answer these in the proper forum, under the impeachment process),” he said.
He said public service accomplishments and public accountability should go hand in hand.
“Walang masama sa pagtulong sa mamamayan. Pero hindi nabubura ng mga programang ito ang mga seryosong alegasyon ng katiwalian, pang-aabuso sa pondo, at iba pang paglabag (There’s nothing wrong with helping the people. But these programs cannot erase the serious allegations of corruption, abuse of public funds and other violations),” Adiong said. (PNA)