Impeachment complaint filed vs VP Sara

Advocacy groups on Monday afternoon filed an impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte and endorsed by Akbayan Party-list Rep. Perci Cendaña. 

The complaint was filed in the Secretary General’s Office at the House of Representatives by civil society organizations, religious leaders, sectoral representatives, and families of victims of extrajudicial killings. It was officially received by House Secretary General Reginald Velasco at 4:30 p.m.

The complainants were Teresita Quintos Deles, Fr. Flaviano Villanueva, Fr. Robert Reyes, Randy Delos Santos (uncle of Tokhang victim Kian Delos Santos), Francis Aquino Dee, Leah Navarro, Sylvia Estrada Claudio, Alicia Murphy, Sr. Mary Grace De Guzman, and former Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano, among others. 

They were accompanied by Mamamayang Liberal partylist first nominee and former senator Leila De Lima, who acted as the group's spokesperson.

De Lima said there were 16 signatories in the complaint, which stemmed from Duterte’s alleged culpable violations of the Constitution, graft and corruption, bribery, betrayal of public trust, and other high crimes.

“Ang wala lang na ground for impeachment is treason. So majority of the grounds are present. And there are a total of 24 articles of impeachment as discussed in the 33-page complaint,” the former senator told reporters.

Cendaña, meanwhile, said that the loyalty of the filers in making Duterte accountable is to the Filipino people and not to any particular politician.

“Today, I formally endorse the first-ever and historic impeachment complaint filed by our citizens against Vice President Sara Duterte. This moment marks a critical juncture in our nation's demand for accountability,” the solon said. 

“I stand in full support of the brave citizens calling for Duterte to answer for her blatant violations of the Constitution, egregious corruption, and complicity in mass murder,” he added. 

According to Cendaña, Duterte deserves to be impeached for her alleged abuse of power and plunder of the nation’s coffers. He also said that the country must not allow the Duterte family’s “legacy of corruption and mass murder to persist unchallenged.”

“The entrenched culture of impunity and graft will only be dismantled when those who perpetuate and profit from it are held to account. This impeachment complaint is but a first step. It must inspire and pave the way for further efforts to bring the Dutertes and their allies before the altar of justice,” he said. 

GMA News Online sought comment from the Office of the Vice President, and will update this story once it responds.

In a text message to reporters, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III refused to comment, noting that the senators will act as judges should the impeachment complaint reach the upper chamber.

"No comment nalang ako kasi potential 'judge' kaming lahat na senators," Pimentel said.

(I won't issue any comment because senators are potential judges on the case.)

Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero also aired the same concern prior to the filing of the impeachment complaint.

"Won't comment on anything that has to do with 'impeachment' given that we (the Senate) is tasked to hear all impeachment cases. I likewise call on and urge my colleagues to do the same," Escudero said last Friday.

‘Not discretionary’

The Office of the Secretary General confirmed receiving the complaint, emphasizing that the House of Representatives is constitutionally mandated to act on any impeachment complaint filed in accordance with the 1987 Philippine Constitution.

The Constitution states that “a verified complaint for impeachment may be filed by any Member of the House of Representatives or by any citizen upon a resolution of endorsement by any Member thereof.”

“It is crucial to underscore that addressing an impeachment complaint is not a discretionary act for the House of Representatives but a constitutional obligation. The Constitution prescribes clear steps to ensure fairness and adherence to the rule of law,” the Office of the Secretary General said.

“Impeachment proceedings is vital to preserve the integrity of the institution and affirming the principle that public officials are accountable to the people they serve. Accordingly, the House will proceed with its duties in this matter, strictly adhering to the Constitution, its rules, and the principles of due process,” it added. 

The impeachment complaint was filed a week after Duterte made the controversial remark of contracting someone to kill President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez, if an alleged plot against her succeeds. 

She later on clarified that her statement was not a threat, saying she only highlighted the alleged threat to her security. She also said that her remark was "taken out of logical context."

Authorities, however, have considered Duterte’s remarks as a threat to the President and a matter of national security. 

Marcos has also vowed to block "criminal attempts" against him.

The President, however, later on said he is not supportive of any impeachment plan against Duterte, believing that it would not benefit the lives of Filipinos.

In response to this, De Lima cited that the impeachment move was allowed under the Constitution, and was made solely by individuals from diverse groups.

“Hindi namin tinitignan ‘yung mga ganyan kasi ayaw nga namin ‘yan, na ma-perceive kami as favoring any of the political protagonists now. Talagang desisyon ito ng mga indibidwal na mga nag-file coming from various groups,” she said.

(We don't look at what people are saying because we don't want to be perceived as favoring any of the political protagonists now. This is really a decision of the individual filers coming from various groups.)

“Ayaw naming kumupas o sumama sa kung anuman na mga moves nila ng mga nasa gobyerno ngayon, including the President. We cannot be affected by the sire to really make the Vice President accountable because that is in fact recognized by the Constitution,” she added.

(We don't want to go along with whatever moves are being made by those in government now, including the President.) —AOL/RF, GMA Integrated News