Congress urged to impeach VP Sara within 2025

The filers of impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday called on members of Congress to impeach or remove the second highest elected official from her post within the year.

House Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro, former Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Teddy Casiño, ex-Gabriela party-list Rep. Liza Maza, among others, made the call as the complaints filed against Duterte have yet to be referred to Speaker Martin Romualdez.

Based on House Rules, a verified complaint for impeachment either filed by a member of the House or by any citizen/s which is endorsed by any House member should be filed before the Office of the House Secretary General and “immediately referred to the Speaker.” 

It also states that the Speaker should include it in the Order of Business within 10 session days from receipt and refer it to the House Committee on Justice within three session days.

“Basically, ang mga complainants ng first, second, and third impeachment complaint ay nagkakaisa sa panawagan sa Kongreso na aksyunan na as soon as possible ang aming mga impeachment complaints. Whether they consolidate it, whether may susuportahan silang isa lang, whatever it is, they have to act within the session days allotted until February 7," Casiño said.

(Basically, the complainants of the first, second, and third impeachment complaint are united in urging Congress to act as soon as possible. Whether they consolidate it or support just one, whatever it is, they have to act within the session days allotted until February 7.)

"Ang nais namin ay kagyat na ipadala na ng Speaker ang aming complaints sa Committee on Justice para ito ay mapag-usapan at mapag-desisyunan na (We want this to be immediately sent to the Committee on Justice to be discussed and decided upon),” he added.

Asked particularly if they want the Vice President to be impeached within 2025, the groups said “yes" in unison.

“The fact that we filed the impeachment complaint now, even before 2025, proves that we really want her impeached. This impeachment of Vice President Sara is for the country, not for political consideration,” Maza said.

“Ipakita natin na hindi tayo pumapayag sa katiwalian, na hindi tayo pumapayag sa korupsyon at dapat na itong wakasan (This would show that we are against graft and corruption and it should end). This is our message,” Maza added.

Casiño said the impeachment filers will stage protests on January 18, 25, 27, and 31 to convince over one-third of the members of the House to impeach the Vice President.

“We have a series of mass actions to push Congress to fulfill its duty. Let’s remember, January and February are months of political upheavals in our history. EDSA [People Power] 1986 [that ousted Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. after 20 years in power] was in February, EDSA Dos [that ousted then President Joseph Estrada] was in January]. The First Quarter Storm [that sparked protests against Marcos Sr.’s iron fist rule] was also in January. Maraming nangyayari sa politika a first quarter ng taon. At yun ang gusto natin mangyari,” Casiño said.

“The support of the members of the House is really very important. Because kung masettle ‘yung impeachment dito, Vice President Sara Duterte will be deemed impeached. She will be an impeached Vice President. Of course,  the conviction rests with the Senate, but her impeachment in the House is already half the battle [won],” Maza added.

At least one-third of all the House members is needed to vote for the impeachment. The Articles of Impeachment will then be sent to the Senate which will convene into an impeachment court.

An official shall be convicted if two-thirds of the Senate votes for his or her impeachment.

EXPLAINER: How impeachment works in the Philippines

The three impeachment raps against the Vice President mainly accuses her of betrayal of public trust over misuse of around P612 million confidential funds.

Senate President Francis Escudero earlier expressed doubt if there is enough time for the impeachment trial of Duterte.

One of the issues that needs clarification, Escudero said, is if the impeachment complaint could continue once the 19th Congress ends.

"Dapat tignan at pag-aralan at suriin din kapag ito ay inabutan sa anumang stage, hindi pa nare-refer sa amin o na-refer na sa amin ng pagpasok ng 20th Congress, tanong ang bibitawan ko katulad ba ito ng ibang bill na kailangang magsimula ulit? Back to square one o magsu-survive ba ito ng 19th Congress at tatawid sa 20th Congress?" he said.

(It should be looked at, studied, and examined, especially if it reaches us at any stage, whether it has not yet been referred to us or has already been referred at the beginning of the 20th Congress. My question is, is this similar to other bills that need to start over? Are we going back to square one, or will it survive the 19th Congress and carry over into the 20th Congress?)

"Tiyak ko may magkukwestiyon sa korte niyan dahil unique at bagong proseso ito," he added.

(I'm sure there will be questions in court about that because it's a unique and new process.)

Perfect timing

Casiño and the impeachment advocates then said that there is no better time to pursue the impeachment of the Vice President than now as the campaign period for the May 2025 elections nears.

He said the aspirants could show that they are against corruption and for good governance by impeaching the Vice President.

The campaign period for senators and party-list groups will begin on February 11 while it will be on March 28 for members of the House and other local positions.

Congress will not be in session from February 8 to June 1. Congress will resume session on June 2 until June 13 before 19th Congress adjourns sine die.

The 20th Congress will start on July 27, with the fourth State of the Nation Address of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. 

 “Sa pag-usapan namin kanina, talagang open ang possibility that the impeachment trial will be stretched at aaabot pa ito hanggang sa next Congress [which will convene in July 2025]. In other words, magiging usapin ang impeachment sa elections and we will have to shift the campaign para ipanalo 'yung mga senador na pro-impeachment,” Casiño said.

(Based on our discussion, we are open to the possibility that the impeachment trial will be stretched until the next Congress. In other words, impeachment will be a topic and we will have to shift the campaign to push for senators who are pro-impeachment.)

“This is, in fact, perfect timing because there will be a key issue na magiging usapin sa eleksyon at manghihikayat tayo ng mamamayan na iboto ang mga senador na mag-iimpeach kay Sara Duterte,” Casiño added.

(This is, in fact, a perfect timing because there will be a key topic this election, we will convince the people to vote for senators who will impeach Sara Duterte.)

GMA News Online reached out to the House members and Duterte for comment and will publish them as soon as it becomes available.

Duterte earlier welcomed the filing of impeachment complaints against her. She said her critics have been saying that they will be filing the complaint against her since 2023.

“So, okay din 'yung impeachment case dahil ako lang ang tinitira doon, ako lang iniimbestigahan noon. Ako lang ang inaatake ng impeachment case. Hindi na kasali ang nga kasamahan ko sa OVP and mga dati kong kasama sa DepEd. Masagot na ng final kung ano 'yung mga inaakusa nila sa akin,” Duterte said.

(So, it’s okay they filed an impeachment case since I’ll only be the one who's being attacked. I’ll only be the one who's being investigated. I’ll only be the one who is being attacked in the impeachment case. My staff in the Office of the Vice President and Department of Education will no longer be involved. I can finally answer what they are accusing me of.) —AOL, GMA Integrated News