By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos | Philippine News Agency
Malacañang on Tuesday questioned efforts to exclude certain documents, including Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs), from the evidence to be presented in the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said documents related to Duterte’s SALNs appeared to be among the core pieces of evidence in the impeachment complaint, particularly in relation to allegations of unexplained wealth.
“Sa ating pagkakaalam, ito iyong pinaka-core eh, ito iyong pinaka-meat ng kaso, ng complaint laban sa kaniya tungkol sa diumanong unexplained wealth,” Castro said in a Palace press briefing.
“So, kung pinapatanggal niya ito, papaano niyang maipapakita sa bayan na siya ay tuwid at malinis at walang unexplained wealth?” she added.
Castro questioned the basis for seeking the exclusion of such records from the proceedings but clarified that the Palace would not interfere in the Senate’s handling of the impeachment trial.
She emphasized that the administration respects the Senate’s independence and would leave the impeachment process to the chamber.
“Hindi naman makikialam ang Palasyo, ang administrasyon sa magiging trabaho po ng Senado,” she said.
Castro also underscored the importance of public reporting and documentation in assessing government performance, referring to the Vice President’s recent accomplishment report.
She said such reports should be supported by complete records and verifiable data, citing previous findings of the Commission on Audit (COA) on Office of the Vice President programs, including concerns raised on entrepreneurship and assistance initiatives.
She added that COA had flagged certain OVP projects for lacking supporting documentation such as feasibility studies, written agreements and evaluation reports.
“Mga bagay na dapat na isinasagawa otherwise, ikaw talaga ay mapa-flag ng COA at mayroon pa pong mga na-flag na mga tungkol sa distribution ng mga ayuda, kulang-kulang ang listahan ng mga rice beneficiaries, walang mga situational reports or mission orders na magsu-support sa pamimigay ng mga ayuda,” Castro said.
Castro added that accountability requires more than accomplishment figures, stressing the need for proper documentation and audit compliance in government reporting.
“Dapat ito ay mabigyan ng basehan kung totoo bang ito ay naipamigay dahil marami na pong naibalita noon na may mga ghost students, ghost vouchers, ghost school materials, ghost food packs,” she said.
“So, sabi nga natin, dapat makumpleto ang report hindi lamang sa numero, kaya it would be very challenging for the Vice President,” Castro added.
Castro to VP Sara: Offer solutions, not criticism, on school violence
Meanwhile, Castro urged Duterte to present concrete proposals to address school violence instead of merely criticizing the government following the school shooting incident in Tacloban City.
“Magaling naman po yata siyang magpuna, pero walang solusyon na naibibigay. Sana nagbigay siya ng solusyon,” Castro said.
Castro also questioned the Vice President’s suggestion regarding intelligence gathering, noting that the incident involved students and not terrorists.
“Ibig sabihin, estudyante dapat mino-monitor para sa intelligence gathering? Hindi sila mga terorista, sila ay mga estudyanteng mukhang diumanong gumon lang sa online gaming na marahas,” she said.
Castro stressed that similar incidents had happened in the past despite the security efforts under the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte, citing past several violent incidents, including a 2019 shooting involving a Grade 7 student inside a classroom in Laguna.
“May mga pagkakataon po na hindi maiiwasan ang mga ganitong sitwasyon, especially sa pangyayaring ito, mga estudyante, mga menor de edad, hindi terorista,” she said.
Castro said the Vice President should provide recommendations that could help prevent similar incidents in the future.
“At sa susunod sana, bago magbigay ng pamimintas at paninira ang Bise Presidente, itanong ninyo sa kanya, ano ang kanyang suhestiyon,” Castro said.
The suspects in the shooting incident at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City, Leyte on Monday were minors aged 14 and 15.
Before the incident, two separate stabbing incidents involving students were reported in Cavite on June 16 and 19.
The incidents have prompted discussions on possible amendments to the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act, enhancing school security protocols, and regulating the use of social media for minors.
