All 3 impeachment complaints vs Sara Duterte verified — House SecGen

House Secretary General Reginald Velasco confirmed Friday that the three impeachment complaints filed against Vice President Sara Duterte have all been verified.

The three impeachment complaints, which are all connected with the alleged misuse of confidential funds, were filed and endorsed late last year at the House of Representatives.

"As soon as the complaint is filed, pinag-aralan agad noong legal department namin. So as of today, na-verified na lahat 'yun, 'yung tatlo (Our legal department reviews a complaint as soon as it is filed. As of today, all three have been verified)," Velasco said in an interview.

"Puwede nang i-transmit at anytime (These ready to be transmitted anytime)," he added.

Velasco is now set to transmit the three complaints to the office of Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, who will have 10 days to include these in the House plenary's Order of Business.

In turn, the plenary will have three days to refer the complaints to the House justice committee.

EXPLAINER: How impeachment works in the Philippines

However, Velasco said he may transmit the impeachment complaints on Thursday next week as he has promised to give more time to a group of 10 to 12 members of the House of Representatives who either want to file a fourth impeachment complaint or endorse one of the three already filed.

"Kasi I have to talk with them individually na ganito na gagawin ko. Kung pwede, okay na sa inyo. Kasi, you know, Tina, I don't want to be denounced sa floor na we have a SecGen na hindi kami sinusunod. Nakiusap kami, ganyan 'yun. So I don't want to have any issue with any House member for that matter," he explained.

(I have to talk with them individually and inform them of the steps I'm going to take and ask if these are okay with them. You know, I don't want to be denounced on the floor, with some members saying we have a SecGen who doesn't follow us despite our requests. So I don't want to have any issue with any House member for that matter.)

When asked to comment on supposed perceptions that he is delaying the transmittal, Velasco replied, "Hindi naman, kasi alam mo, the House of Representatives cannot act on it until magkaroon ng session which is January 13. So wala rin gagawin ang House kung on break pa sila. So wala eh, wala namang mapapala kung i-transmit ko kaagad kung wala pa rin session."

(Not really, because the House of Representatives cannot act on it until a session is convened on January 13. So the House won't be able to do anything about it if the members are on break. So there is nothing to gain if I transmit right away if there is no session anyway.)

Asked for more time

Velasco also mentioned that the current situation was unique in that there was more than one impeachment complaint filed, and there were members of the House of Representatives who asked the Secretary General for more time to either file another impeachment complaint or endorse one of the three already filed.

He also cited the Rules on Impeachment of the House of Representatives that does not give him a deadline to transmit any complaint.

"Unfortunately, 'yun 'yung rules natin na it's really up to me to decide. Walang time na nakalagay (Unfortunately, the rules provide that it's really up to me to decide. No timeframe is indicated). Unlike Speaker has 10 session days, the Committee on Rules has three session days, Committee on Justice has 60 session days," he explained.

Velasco also stressed that it would be impossible for him to not transmit the impeachment complaints to the Office of the Speaker.

"One way or another, I have to transmit the complaint or complaints to the Office of the Speaker. Parang ano na 'yun (It would be like), negligence on my part if I will not act on these complaints," he said.

'Time has come'

Akbayan Partylist Representative Perci Cendaña, who endorsed the first impeachment complaint, agrees.

"Hindi puwedeng hindi gumalaw. It's incumbent upon the leadership of the House to take action and to give fair attention to this impeachment complaint kasi 'yan ang nandoon sa Constitution at nandoon sa ating rules sa Mababang Kapulungan," Cendaña said in an interview.

(It's impossible for the complaints not to be processed. It's incumbent upon the leadership of the House to take action and to give fair attention to this impeachment complaint because that's what is provided in the Constitution and also in the rules of the Lower Chamber.)

Cendaña also noted that it has already been a month since the first impeachment complaint was filed, and that it was time for the process to continue.

"Nag-monthsary na 'yung impeachment complaint na finile natin. Nag-monthsary na siya this January. Dahil nag-monthsary na, kinakailangang talagaang aksiyunan na. One month is too long. One month without holding Sara accountable is giving a very bad example to other government officials, public officials na 'yung pag-abuso sa kapangyarihan na ay dapat pinaparusahan. So sapat na 'yung paghihintay. Again, the time has come for the House to act on the impeachment complaint," he said.

(Our impeachment complaint already marked a monthsary since we filed it. Because of this, action should be taken. One month is too long. One month without holding Sara accountable is giving a very bad example to other public officials. Those who abuse of power must be held accountable. So the waiting time is enough. Again, the time has come for the House to act on the impeachment complaint.)

Cendaña added that the complainants in the first impeachment complaint are willing to participate in any collective action.

Last December, Duterte said she welcomed the filing of impeachment complaints against her because only she is the subject of the supposed attacks and do not include her former and current colleagues at the OVP and DepEd.

Duterte had added that this would also provide her the opportunity to finally answer allegations against her. — VDV, GMA Integrated News