KINONDENA ni Lanao del Sur 1st District Representative Zia Alonto Adiong ang pahayag ni Vice President Sara Duterte na politically motivated ang inihaing impeachment case laban sa kanya dahil siya ay frontrunner sa 2028 presidential race.

Ayon kay Adiong ang pahayag ni Duterte ay “a distraction from the real issues of accountability.”

“Let me be very clear: being a frontrunner is not a defense against serious allegations. It is not a shield from investigation, nor is it a justification for violating the Constitution,” ayon kay Adiong, Chairman ng House Ad Hoc Committee on Marawi Rehabilitation and Victims Compensation.

“Hindi lisensya ang pagiging frontrunner para gumawa ng krimen o lumabag sa Konstitusyon. Popularity is not immunity,” diin niya.

Nauna nang sinabi ni Duterte na may mga mambabatas na tumanggap ng pera para suportahan ang impeachment complaint laban sa kanya.

“That allegation is outrageous, malicious, and utterly beneath the dignity of the Office of the Vice President. For her to claim—without a shred of evidence—that we were paid off to do our constitutional duty is an insult to every member of the House of Representatives,” ani Adiong, na halatang galit.

“We signed the impeachment complaint because we believe in accountability—not because we were bought. This institution is not for sale,” dagdag ni Adiong.

Binigyang-diin ng mambabatas mula Mindanao na hindi isang political ambush ang impeachment kundi resulta ito ng isang transparent na proseso na sinunod ang Konstitusyon at alituntunin ng Kamara.

“Vice President Duterte cannot claim political persecution while evading the substance of the charges—misuse of confidential funds, threats against the President, and questions over her involvement in state-sanctioned killings. These are matters of public interest, not partisan games.”

Binalaan din ni Adiong na ang paggamit ng disimpormasyon at pagganap bilang biktima ay nakasisira sa mga demokratikong institusyon.

“We do not impeach people because they are popular. We impeach when the law is broken. That is our duty. That is our mandate under the Constitution. No one is above it—not even the most powerful public officials,” ani Adiong.

Hinimok ng mambabatas si Duterte na harapin ang proseso nang may dignidad at iwasan ang mga pahayag na maaaring makapagdulot ng pagkakabaha-bahagi at pagkalito sa taumbayan.

“Let the truth come out in the proper forum. We are not afraid of scrutiny—and neither should she be, if her conscience is clear,” ani Adiong.