DEPUTY Speaker Paolo Ortega V of La Union on Wednesday likened Vice President Sara Z. Duterte’s brief appearance at the Senate complex to “clickbait,” saying it drew attention but fell short of addressing the allegations against her in the impeachment trial.
Duterte appeared at the Senate on Tuesday but did not enter the session hall for the day’s proceedings. Instead, she delivered a one-line statement to reporters—“In this bloodbath and bludgeoning, I will be bloodied but unbowed”—before leaving without taking questions.
“Nagparamdam, parang clickbait nga. Pagka-click mo ay iba naman pala ’yung nangyari, iba ’yung laman,” Ortega said during a press briefing.
Ortega said he had expected Duterte to skip the hearing and described her brief appearance as one that was open to interpretation because she did not explain what she meant.
“One-liner lang eh, tapos nag-move out na. So it’s open to interpretation,” he said.
Ortega also remarked on Duterte’s repeated use of blood imagery.
“Mahilig siya sa blood, ’yun ’yung napansin ko. Baka pati ’yung order sa bar, Bloody Mary,” he said.
House trial spokesperson Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong, meanwhile, said the Senate impeachment court—not remarks made outside the hearing room—remains the proper venue for Duterte to respond to the charges against her.
“Matagal naman po natin sinasabi, ang House prosecution panel that this is the perfect venue for the respondent to clear her name,” Alonto Adiong said.
“If the defense truly believe that they have the answers in order for the public, for the respondent to clear her name, this is the perfect opportunity to do so,” he said.
Alonto Adiong recalled that Duterte’s camp had repeatedly said in previous months that it was prepared to answer the allegations contained in the impeachment complaint.
“Sila ho mismo, sinabi ho nila in the previous months, na ready na ho sila, they will answer the allegation,” he said.
He added that what the public expects are direct answers to the accusations, including those involving the use of confidential funds and the findings cited by the Commission on Audit.
“These are the questions that the people want to hear from her. Kasi siya po, this is her trial eh,” Alonto Adiong said.
He said Duterte’s statement before leaving the Senate did not address those issues.
“Parang it appeared and it sounded like a Game of Thrones-inspired punchline. Ay hindi po ’yun ang kasagutan at hindi po ’yun ang inaasahan ng mga tao na ’yun ’yung sinasabi nilang handa silang sumagot sa proper forum. Unfortunately, the public was yet again disappointed,” Alonto Adiong said.
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