House Justice Panel Speaks on VP Sara Duterte’s Bank Accounts amid Impeachment Complaints Proceedings
SARA DUTERTE’S BANK ACCOUNTS – The House Committee on Justice said the Bank Secrecy Law allegedly does not cover the impeachment process.
Vice Pres. Sara Duterte is currently faced with two (2) impeachment complaints that were recently found to be sufficient in substance by the House Justice panel. The said impeachment raps against the Vice President were filed by Fr. Bong Saballa, among others, and lawyer Nathaniel Cabrera.
The House Committee on Justice previously set aside the first impeachment complaint filed against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte before the Office of the Secretary General of the House of Representatives. According to the panel, the impeachment rap allegedly violated the one year rule ban.
Tindig Pilipinas withdrew the second impeachment complaint filed against Duterte. Instead, they cast their support in the third impeachment rap that was filed against the Vice President which mentioned several alleged violations.
Here are the grounds cited in the third impeachment complaint filed against Duterte before the House Secretary General’s Office:
- Alleged culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust, and other high crimes in amassing and converting the amount over PHP 500 million confidential funds (CF) allocated to the Office of the Vice President from 2022 to 2023
- Alleged culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust, and other high crimes in amassing and converting the amount of not less than PHP 112.5 million of confidential funds allocated to the Department of Education (DepEd) for the year 2023
- Alleged culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust by corrupting and bribing officials of the DepEd
- Alleged culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, and other high crimes in contracting to murder or assassinate the president, the first lady, and the former speaker of the House
- Alleged culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust in amassing unexplained wealth and failing to disclose all her properties and interests in properties in her SALN
- Alleged culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust in committing acts of political destabilization and the high crimes of sedition and insurrection
A total of 54 solons voted in the affirmative on the sufficiency of the substance of the impeachment raps filed against Duterte. One lawmaker abstained while Quezon City Representative Bong Suntay was the only one who voted in the negative.
Amid the impeachment proceedings in the House, the Justice panel of the chamber recently claimed that they might look into Vice Pres. Sara Duterte’s bank accounts. According to News5, the committee stressed that the Bank Secrecy Law allegedly does not cover the impeachment proceedings.
Based on the report, one of the grounds cited in the impeachment rap is the alleged sudden increase on the assets of the Vice President. From 18 million in 2008, the assets of Duterte allegedly jumped to P88.5 million in 2024 as per Rep. Terry Ridon.
According to House Justice Committee chairperson Gervi Luistro, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte’s bank accounts may only be opened if the complainants will file a motion for subpoena to be able to get the documents. Previously, the camp of Duterte refused to comment on the panel finding the impeachment raps against the Vice President sufficient in substance.
Following the findings of the House Justice panel, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte is given 10 days to answer to the impeachment complaints filed against her.