Manila:Malacañang has urged Vice President Sara Duterte to adhere to the constitutional provisions regarding financial interests amid reports of her receiving monthly payments from a business while in public office.
According to Philippines News Agency, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro emphasized the Constitution's clear mandate that government officials, especially the President, Vice President, Cabinet members, or Deputies of Cabinet secretaries, should not have financial interests in contracts. This statement follows reports that Duterte receives monthly disbursements from a business, amounting to PHP2.14 million from 2022 to 2025, as disclosed by GenCorp Industries Inc.'s in-house counsel, Suzette Balucanag-Punay, during Duterte's impeachment trial.
Castro refrained from commenting on the credibility of the witnesses or their testimonies in the impeachment proceedings, noting that the executive branch will allow the process to unfold naturally. She highlighted that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is currently focused on other priorities and not evaluating the witnesses at this moment.
The Senate, acting as an impeachment court, is tasked with uncovering the truth and determining if any wrongdoing has occurred. Castro reiterated the importance of transparency and accountability for public servants, stressing that they must uphold and advocate for the Constitution's mandate.
