Vice Pres. Sara Duterte Speaks on Possible Trial Following Impeachment by House
SARA DUTERTE – The Vice President spoke on the preparations of her camp for the possible impeachment trial in the Senate.
The House of Representatives has impeached Vice Pres. Duterte for the second time around. It came after four (4) impeachment raps were filed against the Vice President — one set aside by the House Committee on Justice panel, one withdrawn, and two (2) found by the panel as sufficient in form, substance, and grounds.
Here are some of the grounds raised in the impeachment raps filed against Duterte:
- 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 previously claimed that it is fine with her if she will be removed from her position. She believes that she can help more Filipinos through the Office of the Vice President (OVP) if she stays though.
According to the Vice President’s camp, she will answer to the allegations against her in the proper forum which is the Senate. Her lawyers also previously claim that the Vice President may be willing to attend the Senate impeachment trial if she will be compelled to attend.
Duterte skipped all the hearings of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Justice. Her camp appealed for a Temporary Restraining Order on the impeachment hearings conducted by the House as they questioned their constitutionality. The Supreme Court did not issue a TRO.
Recently, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte was asked about the preparations of her camp for the possible impeachment trial in the Senate. Based on News5, the Vice President claimed that she has left the preparations in the hands of her lawyers.
“Ang preparation, ang paghahanda ng impeachment trial ay iniwan ko na sa mga abogado. Sinabihan ko na rin sila na susunod na lamang ako sa kung ano ‘yung desisyon ng mga abogado,” Duterte said.
Vice Pres. Sara Duterte admitted that she has her own insights as a lawyer with regards to her case. Meanwhile, based on the post, she recognizes her role as the client now so she lets her lawyers decide on the matter.
“Kasi, ako, bilang abogado, meron din akong mga iniisip, meron din akong mga gustong gawin pero sa aking estado na ngayon ako ay client, kinlaro ko ‘yun sa mga abogado na gawin nating maliit lang ‘yung team para madaling makapag-usap at kung ano ‘yung sa tingin nila pinakatama at pinakamabisa, pinakamagaling na paraan ng kanilang defense ay susunod lang ako bilang kliyente nila,” the Vice President added.
Amid the issues surrounding the Senate leadership, House member Gerville Luistro recently claimed that the Filipino people will allegedly get mad if the impeachment trial of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte will be delayed.