Palace Press Officer Claire Castro during the Malacanang press briefing on July 16, 2026. Screen grab from RTVM livestream/Facebook.
Malacañang on Thursday called for a fact-based impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte as senator-judges prepared to tackle allegations involving confidential funds and other issues raised against her.
In a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the proceedings should remain focused on evidence and the central questions before the impeachment court instead of being diverted by political distractions.
“Ang inaasahan po natin ay walang drama, walang pagtatago ng katotohanan, at walang pag-iwas sa totoong issue na kinakaharap dito sa impeachment trial,” Castro said. She added that the public deserved a process that would bring out the truth.
The Palace also defended the National Bureau of Investigation’s (NBI) planned inquiry into alleged irregularities connected with facilities built for the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.
Castro rejected claims that the investigation was intended to intimidate senator-judges handling Duterte’s impeachment trial. She said the NBI was merely carrying out its mandate to investigate reports of possible wrongdoing.
“Ang tao na wala naman dapat katakutan ay hindi na-iintimidate kahit kailan. Ang pag-iimbestiga na gagawin dahil mayroon naman talagang issue noon pang 2019, hindi ito pang-iintimidate, hindi ito panggigipit sa mga taong wala namang ginawang mali” Castro said, adding that an inquiry should not be viewed as an attack against individuals who had committed no offense.
“Maari silang pag-isipan na kayo ba’y guilty?,” she added.
She said NBI Director Melvin Matibag raised the issue after receiving information about alleged corruption during discussions related to the planned NBI Academy in New Clark City. Castro maintained that the timing of the inquiry did not automatically make it politically motivated.
Malacañang also said it had not received any request to authorize the opening of Duterte’s sealed Bureau of Internal Revenue records. Castro said the Palace had no information on whether prosecutors or the Senate had already made such a request and would wait for formal communication from the proper authorities.
