Politics · Philippines Bureau
Prosecution tells Duterte: Practice transparency before preaching it
The prosecution panel in Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial has challenged her calls for transparency, arguing she should first account for confidential funds under her control. Lawyer Lorna Kapunan told Duterte during a Wednesday briefing that true transparency requires explaining the allocation and use of these sensitive government resources.
LSN Philippines ·
MANILA — Prosecutors handling Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment case turned her own rhetoric against her on Wednesday, questioning her commitment to transparency while she remains silent on the handling of confidential government funds.
Lawyer Lorna Kapunan, representing the prosecution panel, pressed Duterte during an online briefing to explain the allocation and expenditure of confidential funds under her office's control. Kapunan argued that Duterte's recent public calls for transparency in government would be more credible if she first addressed questions about these discretionary resources.
The exchange marks an escalation in the impeachment trial, which has centered partly on allegations involving the Vice President's handling of public funds. The prosecution team has sought detailed documentation on how confidential allocations were spent during her tenure as both Davao City mayor and Vice President.
Duterte has previously denied wrongdoing and maintained her position that certain government expenditures necessarily require confidentiality for security reasons. Her legal team has argued that confidential funds are a standard feature of executive branch operations across democratic governments.
The trial continues as both sides prepare additional submissions to the Senate impeachment court, which will ultimately determine the merits of the charges against the Vice President.