VP Sara Duterte Slams Subpoena Move as ‘Fishing Expedition’ in Impeachment Probe

Vice President Sara Duterte said the move by Akbayan party-list Rep. Chel Diokno to request subpoenas in the impeachment proceedings only proves that there is no solid evidence against her and that her critics are merely “fishing” for proof.

“Media outlets have recently published what is described as a letter from Rep. Diokno filed before the House Committee on Justice, seeking the issuance of subpoenas to obtain additional documents and records in connection with the impeachment complaints against me,” Duterte said in a statement.

“This only reinforces what I have been saying all along. There is no sufficient evidence to warrant an impeachment case against me,” she added.

Duterte explained that the House Committee on Justice’s “finding of sufficiency in substance” means the allegations in the complaint must already be supported by evidence.

She argued that the committee should not conduct an investigation simply to search for evidence to support accusations, warning that doing so would amount to what she described as the third “fishing expedition” by the House of Representatives.

The Vice President pointed to two earlier instances she considers the first “fishing expeditions.”

The first, she said, was the 2024 budget hearing, which became controversial because of the remark “Let’s stick to our plan.”

The second involved the hearings of the Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, which she said many people associate with the so-called “Mary Grace Piattos” attack.

Duterte claimed the current move is another desperate attempt to find evidence that she insists does not exist.

She reiterated that the impeachment case against her is a “political attack” meant to protect certain individuals while advancing personal and foreign interests.

The Vice President also pointed to several individuals she said were behind the effort, including an official allegedly struggling with substance abuse, a congressman she described as the mastermind behind flood control funds with allies who allegedly received suitcases of cash, and a legislator who has openly expressed plans to run for president.

Duterte also raised concerns about what she described as special treatment being given to an alleged kidnapper, Ramil Madriaga, whom she accused of fabricating a story.

She said the situation is a “serious insult” to the minor victim who suffered as a result of the crime.