VP Sara Duterte is “duty-bound” to attend the hearing.
According to the lawyer of VP Sara Duterte, she is duty-bound to attend the hearing of the House Committee on Justice on the impeachment raps against her.
The impeachment complaints against VP Sara are sufficient in grounds, according to the House of Representatives’ Justice Committee. There were four complaints filed, and two passed scrutiny in terms of substance and form.
“What’s gonna happen during the hearing proper will be the presentation of witnesses and evidence of the complainant to be followed by that of the respondent,” panel chairperson Gerville Luistro said on Friday, as the hearing is bound to enter a more critical phase.
Recently, as the hearing approaches, the legal counsel of the vice president expressed that she is duty-bound to attend the hearing of the House Committee on Justice on the impeachment complaints filed against her.
In an interview, the lawyer emphasized that her presence is not strictly mandatory under the House rules, but despite this, as the vice president, she is responsible for attending the proceedings and addressing the allegations raised against her.
However, previously, lawyer Michael Poa of Duterte’s legal team said that the second-in-command has yet to decide whether to attend the hearing or not. From his point of view, Duterte has nothing to gain from doing so.
Poa, spokesperson for Duterte’s impeachment defense team, said there is no rule requiring her to attend in person, adding that any decision will depend on her lawyers’ advice.
Meanwhile, here are the grounds raised under the said complaint:
- 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
- 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 of 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
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