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Defensor Says Evidence Against VP Sara Is Connecting With Public
Photo credit: Congress PH
House Senior Deputy Majority Leader Lorenz Defensor said the evidence presented against Vice President Sara Duterte during the impeachment hearings has started to strongly resonate with the public, as more people closely follow the allegations discussed in Congress.
Speaking on the “The Spokes” program on Bilyonaryo News Channel Thursday, Defensor said lawmakers on the House Committee on Justice noticed a shift in public sentiment as the hearings progressed.
“Nararamdaman namin. Personally, I can see lalo na sa reaction ng mga tao,” Defensor said.
“One, matatag talaga ang ebidensya. When they say that this is a fishing expedition, that’s wrong, because the net is already full,” he added.
The Iloilo lawmaker said the House had already gathered evidence as early as last year and insisted the allegations could be directly linked to Duterte.
“Since last year ang ebidensya can be directly correlated to the respondent. You can’t deny a movie that was seen by every Filipino. And it shows the character of a high official,” he said.
Defensor was referring to Duterte’s controversial online briefing in November 2024 where she publicly threatened President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and then-House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.
Defensor also said Duterte’s decision not to personally appear before the House Committee on Justice — and the absence of her lawyers during the proceedings — may have affected public perception and her approval ratings.
“It did not help na hindi rin nagpakita ang VP at ang kanyang mga abogado,” Defensor said.
“Malaking bagay ‘yun sa tingin ko kung bakit bumaba ang rating niya at tumaas ang rating ng impeachment sa tao.”
According to Defensor, Duterte could have improved public support had she answered the accusations directly during the hearings.
“If you don’t respond and if you don’t testify na pwede mo naman sanang gawin doon pa lang, sigurado akong when she declared she was running for president before the hearing started, baka tumaas ang rating niya kung sinasagot nila sa Committee on Justice pa lang,” he said.
The lawmaker stressed that the House panel repeatedly gave Duterte opportunities to attend the hearings and respond to the allegations against her.
“Because we wanted to give every chance na dumating siya,” he said.
After weeks of hearings, the House Committee on Justice found probable cause to impeach Duterte and later approved the committee report and Articles of Impeachment.
The House plenary is expected to vote on the Articles of Impeachment on May 11.
Speaking on the “The Spokes” program on Bilyonaryo News Channel Thursday, Defensor said lawmakers on the House Committee on Justice noticed a shift in public sentiment as the hearings progressed.
“Nararamdaman namin. Personally, I can see lalo na sa reaction ng mga tao,” Defensor said.
“One, matatag talaga ang ebidensya. When they say that this is a fishing expedition, that’s wrong, because the net is already full,” he added.
The Iloilo lawmaker said the House had already gathered evidence as early as last year and insisted the allegations could be directly linked to Duterte.
“Since last year ang ebidensya can be directly correlated to the respondent. You can’t deny a movie that was seen by every Filipino. And it shows the character of a high official,” he said.
Defensor was referring to Duterte’s controversial online briefing in November 2024 where she publicly threatened President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and then-House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.
Defensor also said Duterte’s decision not to personally appear before the House Committee on Justice — and the absence of her lawyers during the proceedings — may have affected public perception and her approval ratings.
“It did not help na hindi rin nagpakita ang VP at ang kanyang mga abogado,” Defensor said.
“Malaking bagay ‘yun sa tingin ko kung bakit bumaba ang rating niya at tumaas ang rating ng impeachment sa tao.”
According to Defensor, Duterte could have improved public support had she answered the accusations directly during the hearings.
“If you don’t respond and if you don’t testify na pwede mo naman sanang gawin doon pa lang, sigurado akong when she declared she was running for president before the hearing started, baka tumaas ang rating niya kung sinasagot nila sa Committee on Justice pa lang,” he said.
The lawmaker stressed that the House panel repeatedly gave Duterte opportunities to attend the hearings and respond to the allegations against her.
“Because we wanted to give every chance na dumating siya,” he said.
After weeks of hearings, the House Committee on Justice found probable cause to impeach Duterte and later approved the committee report and Articles of Impeachment.
The House plenary is expected to vote on the Articles of Impeachment on May 11.
May 7, 2026
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