Former Misamis Oriental Vice Governor Joey Pelaez believes the overwhelming vote in the House of Representatives to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte was not about accountability, but about preventing her from running in the 2028 presidential elections.
In an interview, Pelaez said Duterte’s political rivals fear her strong public support, which could make her a formidable candidate in the next presidential race.
He pointed out the controversy surrounding the flood control scandal, where billions of pesos were allegedly involved, yet Congress has not launched a major investigation or summoned key personalities, an issue he argued deserves more attention than the Vice President’s confidential funds.
Pelaez also noted that liquidation of confidential funds is a straightforward process, raising questions as to why there is so much noise against Duterte’s budget while the flood control scandal remains largely ignored.
For him, the impeachment is driven by political interests tied to the upcoming 2028 elections.
