Malacañang on Monday rejected Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte’s claim that Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment was part of a three-year plan to block her from seeking the presidency in 2028.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said there was no evidence supporting the allegation and argued that if such a plan truly existed, the vice president should have exercised greater caution in handling confidential funds, which are among the issues raised in the impeachment case.
Castro pointed to alleged irregularities flagged by the Commission on Audit, including supposed ghost vouchers and ghost food packs, saying these are matters that require accountability.
She also criticized Duterte’s attendance at a Taylor Swift concert in Germany while Typhoon Carina was affecting the Philippines, saying the vice president should have prioritized her duties instead of traveling abroad.
Castro stressed that the impeachment proceedings are focused on transparency and accountability, not on preventing Duterte from running in the 2028 elections. She added that if the vice president can prove her innocence, nothing would stop her from seeking higher office.
The Palace also dismissed the Duterte camp’s reference to “Oplan Romanov” as justification for alleged threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
Castro noted that the term “Romanov” was first publicly mentioned by Mayor Duterte in January 2024 and said the Duterte camp has yet to present evidence that such an operation exists. She also accused former President Rodrigo Duterte, Mayor Duterte and Vice President Duterte of making threats against President Marcos.
