With 215 votes, the House of Representatives impeached on Wednesday, Feb. 5, Vice President Sara Duterte based on the fourth impeachment complaint filed against her.
House Secretary General Reginald Velasco told reporters hours ahead of the plenary session that “yes, we have enough…102 po ang requirement eh (the requirement is 102).”
Named prosecutors in the impeachment of Duterte were Reps. Gerville Luistro, Romeo Acop, Ramon Rodrigo L. Gutierrez, Joel Chua, Raul Angelo “Jil” D. Bongalon, Loreto Acheron, Marcelino Libanan, Arnan C. Panaligan, Ysabel Maria J. Zamora, Lorenz R. Defensor, and Jonathan Keith T. Flores.
Velasco said that the impeachment rap in question was the fourth complaint filed against the Vice President.
“Fourth complaint bale ito. I think [there are] seven articles [of impeachment].
Referring to the Vice President, the secretary general said “Of course, she has to be tried by the Senate.”
Velasco was interviewed after a caucus of majority members of the House.
Three impeachment complaints were filed against the Vice President last December. All three were endorsed by minority solons.
Wednesday’s plenary session is the last before the May 12 mid-term elections.
SANDRO MARCOS LEADS
No less than presidential son, Ilocos Norte 1st district Rep. Sandro Marcos led over 200 congressmen in filing the fourth impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday afternoon, Feb. 5.
This was revealed by a source after confirmed to reporters that the fourth complaint had garnered more than enough signatures for its direct transmittal to the Senate.
Once accomplished, Duterte will become the first Vice President in the country’s history to be impeached by the House of Representatives.
Only one-third of the 306-member chamber is required for this direct transmittal to happen.
The 23-member Senate will subsequently convene into an impeachment trial court–a quasi-judicial body–to determine whether or not Vice President Duterte is guilty based on the articles of impeachment stated in the complaint.
Rep. Marcos is the House senior deputy majority leader.
TRANSMITTAL TO SENATE
Staff members of the Senate Public Information Bureau (PRIB) on Wednesday said they were preparing for the “possible” receipt of the impeachment articles against the Vice President.
On Tuesday, Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero refused to comment on matters regarding the impeachment, stating that he would only discuss the matter once the impeachment complaint reached the upper chamber.
He is scheduled as the guest on Thursday at the Kapihan sa Senado forum.
However, after PRIB spoke with the media, Escudero denied that the Senate was preparing for anything regarding the impeachment.
“We cannot and will not assume anything until and unless it is a fact,” he said in a statement.
“The statements made by an over-eager staff was not authorized by me nor was it proper,” he added.
‘DESPERATE’ MOVE
Davao City 1st district Rep. Paolo Duterte was enraged by what he called the “desperate and politically-motivated” effort to speed up the ouster of his sister, the Vice President.
Rep. Duterte described the alleged move to secure signatures from the House members as “a clear act of political persecution,” and “sinister.”
He even warned that the Marcos administration was “treading on dangerous ground.”
“If they were unfazed by the over one million rallying supporters of the Iglesia Ni Cristo, then they are blindly marching toward an even greater storm—one that could shake the very foundation of their rule,” Duterte said.
“The Filipino people will not sit idly by as this government undermines democracy and silences opposition through fabricated accusations,” he added.
He also said that the Marcos administration was “gravely mistaken” if it believed that it can push the “sham impeachment without consequence.”
“This is not just about VP Sara Duterte—this is about the will of the Filipino people,” he said.
“The growing discontent and frustration across the country will not be contained for long. Mark my words: this reckless abuse of power will not end in their favor,” he added. (Ellson Quismorio and Dhel Nazario)