25 more lawmakers back VP Sara impeachment –House SecGen

Another 25 House members have signed the impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte, House Secretary General Reginald Velasco confirmed.

"These lawmakers were unable to attend the initial oath-taking and verification due to prior commitments abroad or in their districts," Velasco stated on Friday. "However, they have sent their verifications to formalize their support for the proceedings."

The 25 additional signatories are:

• Biñan: Rep. Marlyn “Len” Alonte
• Cagayan: Rep. Ramon Nolasco Jr.
• Isabela: Rep. Tonypet Albano
• Lanao del Norte: Rep. Mohamad Khalid Dimaporo
• Leyte: Rep. Carl Nicolas Cari
• Masbate: Reps. Richard Kho, Olga “Ara” Kho, and Wilton Kho
• Negros Occidental: Rep. Emilio Bernardino Yulo
• Quirino: Rep. Midy Cua
• Sultan Kudarat: Rep. Princess Rihan M. Sakaluran
• Pangasinan: Reps. Ramon Guico Jr. and Arthur Celeste
• Cavite: Rep. Adrian Jay Advincula
• Tarlac: Reps. Noel “Bong” Rivera and Christian Tell Yap
• Oriental Mindoro: Rep. Alfonso Umali Jr.

Party-list representatives:

• Ako Bicol: Rep. Zaldy Co
• Ako Bisaya: Rep. Sonny Lagon
• GP: Rep. Jose Gay Padiernos
• Ako Ilocano Ako (AIA): Rep. Richelle Singson
• Kabayan: Rep. Ron Salo
• Sagip: Rep. Caroline Tanchay
• Abono: Rep. Robert Raymund Estrella
• ACT-CIS: Rep. Edvic Yap

At least one-third of the 306 House members (102 lawmakers) must sign an impeachment complaint for it to be transmitted directly to the Senate for trial. 

The initial 215 signatories already exceeded this threshold. If the Senate impeachment court accepts the additional 25, the total number of complainants will reach 240.

Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Adiong, one of the original 215 signers, emphasized that the decision to include the new signers rested with the Senate.

The impeachment complaint accuses Vice President Duterte of:

1. Conspiracy to assassinate President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. First Lady Liza Marcos, and Speaker Martin Romualdez
2. Malversation of P612.5 million in confidential funds with questionable liquidation documents
3. Bribery and corruption in the Department of Education (DepEd) during Duterte’s tenure as Education chief by handing out cash to DepEd personnel namely: former DepEd Undersecretary Gloria Jumamil-Mercado (Procurement Head), Bids and Awards Committee Member Resty Osias, DepEd Chief Accountant Rhunna Catalan and Special Disbursing Officer Edward Fajarda
4. Unexplained wealth and failure to disclose assets in the Vice President’s Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth where her wealth increased by four times from 2007 to 2017, among other bank accounts
5. Involvement in extrajudicial killings in Davao City
6. Destabilization, insurrection, and public disorder efforts which include boycotting the State of the Nation Address (SONA) while declaring herself “designated survivor”, leading rallies calling for President Marcos Jr.’s resignation, obstructing congressional investigations by ordering subordinates not to comply with subpoenas, threatening bodily harm against the President, First Lady, and Speaker Romualdez, among others and
7. The totality of the Vice President’s conduct as the second-highest official of the land

— DVM, GMA Integrated News