Iloilo 3rd District Representative Lorenz Defensor expressed confidence Thursday that substantial evidence will be presented once the House Committee on Justice begins deliberations on the impeachment complaints filed against Vice President Sara Duterte.
“Sigurado akong kung may i-finile at kung kasama yung ibang allegations nung nakaraang impeachment complaints, there will certainly be substance in the impeachment complaints,” Defensor said.
Defensor, who previously served on the House prosecution panel in the impeachment case against Duterte last year, recalled that the earlier proceedings did not push through after the Supreme Court struck down the articles of impeachment on technical grounds.
“The evidence last time, matatag yun,” he noted. “Saying na may kinausap kang tao handang pumatay sa Presidente kahit anong taon, it will always be an impeachable offense.”
He was referring to Duterte’s earlier statement that she had spoken to an assassin prepared to kill President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez if anything happened to her.
“Kung may bagong ebidensyang maihahain ang mga complainants at ang mga endorsers nitong bagong apat na impeachment complaints, it will only strengthen the evidence against the respondent, against the Vice President,” Defensor added.
The lawmaker also expressed confidence that his party, the National Unity Party (NUP), would allow members to take their own positions on the issue.
“Miyembro ako ng NUP at nagpapasalamat ako sa partido that they have always respected my principles and my independence pagdating sa mga national issues. I share their same sentiment na dapat may matatag na ebidensya,” he said.
Defensor clarified that he has not received any formal directive from the party regarding the impeachment proceedings.