Former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV Speaks on VP Sara Duterte’s Impeachment Rap
ANTONIO TRILLANES IV – The former Senator confirmed that he will testify in the impeachment hearing against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte.
Vice Pres. Sara Duterte is faced with two (2) impeachment raps filed before the House of Representatives’ Office of the Secretary General after the House Committee on Justice panel set aside the first impeachment complaint against Duterte. The complainants of the second impeachment rap withdrew the complaint.
According to Vice Pres. Sara Duterte, she and her camp already expected the filing of impeachment raps against her. Her lawyers assured that they are ready to face the impeachment complaints.
Out of the four (4) impeachment raps filed against Duterte, the third and the fourth complaints were found sufficient in form and substance by the House Justice panel. The committee also found them sufficient in grounds.
The complainants behind the second impeachment rap, the group Tindig Pilipinas, withdrew their impeachment rap to avoid procedural delay and supported the third impeachment complaint which raised the following grounds:
- 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
Vice Pres. Sara Duterte has 16 lawyers in her legal team. Here are the legal counsels of the Vice President amid the moves to oust her from office:
- Carlo Joaquin Narvasa
- Justin Nicol Gular
- David Ronell Golla VII
- Lindon Miguel Bacquel
- Karol Grace Oroceo
- Clarlaine Radoc
- Francesca Marie Flores
- Miguel Carlos Fernandez
- Michael Wesley Poa
- Reynold Munsayac
- Mark Vinluan
- Ralph Bodota
- Roberto Batungbacal
The House Committee on Justice set the dates for the hearing of the impeachment complaints. The panel is authorized to continue the legal proceedings despite the Congressional race.
Atty. Michael Poa, the spokesperson of the legal team of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte, stressed that the Vice President is not required to attend the ‘mini-trial’. The same was confirmed by House Justice panel chairman Gervilla Luistro.
“[There] is no requirement under the applicable rules for her personal attendance. Any decision in that regard will be made in accordance with her rights and upon the advice of counsel,” Poa said.
The first impeachment hearing is set today, March 25. However, the lawyer of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte has already confirmed that she will skip the impeachment mini-trial today. The Duterte camp questions the constitutionality of the proceedings.
Based on a post of News5, former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV confirmed that he will testify in the impeachment hearing against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte. It is no secret to the public that he is one of the staunch critics of the Dutertes.
According to former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, he will be the opening witness in the impeachment hearing of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte on April. Based on the post, the former Senator will be presenting in relation to the allegations against the Vice President and her family including her bank accounts.
Previously, a member of the House of Representatives claimed that there is allegedly enough number to impeach Vice Pres. Sara Duterte.