VP Sara Duterte Skips March 25 ‘Mini-Trial’ of House on Impeachment Complaints
SARA DUTERTE – A House of Representatives member slammed the camp of the Vice President for questioning impeachment proceedings.
Amid the countless issues in the Philippine government now and the unfortunate rising of the costs of oil and basic commodities in the country, Vice Pres. Duterte remains questioned about the controversial spending of the P625-million confidential funds of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd).
In February, four (4) impeachment complaints were filed against Duterte before the House of Representatives’ Office of the Secretary General. The first one was set aside by the House Committee on Justice for violating the one year rule ban. The complainants of the second impeachment rap withdrew their complaint.
Two (2) impeachment complaints against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte were found sufficient in grounds aside from being sufficient in form and substance. The third impeachment rap gained the support of Tindig Pilipinas, the complainants behind the withdrawn impeachment complaint.
Several grounds were cited in the third impeachment complaint against Duterte filed by a lawyer who led a group which includes members of the religious sector. Here are the grounds cited in the said impeach rap:
- 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
However, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte skipped the first hearing set by the House Committee on Justice over the impeachment complaint filed against her. Her lawyer, Atty. Michael Poa, claimed that the Vice President is allegedly not required to be personally present at the hearing. He revealed that they are questioning the constitutionality of the process.
Recently, a member of the lower chamber, House Committee on Good Government chairperson at 3rd District Manila Rep. Joel Chua, slammed the camp of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte for questioning the process for the impeachment complaint. Based on News5, he claimed stressed that they are following all the rules.
“Lahat na lang, sinabi niya, unconstitutional. ‘Yung unang mga desisyon ng Korte Suprema, sinasabi, unconstitutional… Ngayon, lahat ng nakalagay sa ating Saligang Batas — ito po ay sinusunod namin, pati sa rules — ngayon, unconstitutional pa rin. So, ano ba talaga?” the House member said.
Based on the post, the House member also stressed that the camp of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte would previously say that they are ready to face the impeachment complaints against the Vice President. He chided their act of questioning “everything” now.
“Dati sinasabi nila na handa sila… Pero ngayon, ito, binibigay na ‘yung pagkakataon sa kanila. And yet, lahat naman kinu-question nila at sasabihin nila na unconstitutional,” Chua expressed.
The House Justice panel issued a subpoena on the Ombudsman for an access to the Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth of the Vice President. Recently, the Ombudsman confirmed that it will provide the House Committee with the SALN of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte.