Bicol Saro Party-list Representative Terry Ridon criticized Vice President Sara Duterte on Friday, August 14, following reports of her attendance at the court arraignment of her brother, Davao City 1st District Representative Paolo Duterte, who faces a grave threats case.
Speaking at a news briefing, Ridon—a member of the House prosecution panel handling the Vice President’s impeachment trial—highlighted the irony of her appearance, pointing out that she is also facing similar legal troubles.
”Like brother, like sister.”
Ridon made the remark after the Vice President was spotted accompanying her brother during his August 13 arraignment at the Davao City Regional Trial Court Branch No. 52 over a complaint filed by a local businessman.
’It’s interesting na may kinakaharap pong grave threats issue ang Pangalawang Pangulo at may kinakaharap din pong grave threats issue ang kanya pong kapatid. So parang like brother, like sister po ito,” said Ridon, one of the solon-prosecutors in the Senate impeachment trial.
“And the question to them is, and the question of the nation is, does it actually run in the family?” the outspoken congressman added.
The Department of Justice previously filed three counts of grave threats against Vice President Duterte before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court.
The criminal charges stem from alleged death threats made against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, which form part of the four articles of impeachment lodged against her.
Ridon also took aim at what he characterized as selective attendance by the Vice President, questioning her willingness to attend family legal matters while avoiding her own Senate impeachment proceedings.
“Of course, the proceedings of her brother matter, kasi syempre kapatid niya po yun. The more important proceeding for her would be her own grave threats proceeding at the Senate Impeachment Court,” he said.
While acknowledging that the Vice President is under no statutory obligation to physically attend the impeachment trial, Ridon stressed that doing so would offer her a chance to confront the allegations head-on.
“The truth is, kung meron po siyang righteous indignation dito po sa proceedings na ginaganap po laban sa kanya, she should be there to look at the prosecutors in the eye na mga sinungaling kayong lahat. Walang batayan yung kaso ninyo,” he added.
To support his argument, Ridon referenced the late Chief Justice Renato Corona, who personally attended his 2012 trial to face his accusers despite ultimately being convicted.
The pending impeachment case against Vice President Duterte centers on allegations of misusing ₱612.5 million in confidential funds across her offices, inaccurate filings in her Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN), unexplained wealth, and alleged death threats against top government officials.