Militant groups file 2nd impeach case vs VP
THE militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) and former Makabayan bloc lawmakers yesterday led 75 complainants in filing a second impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte
The complaint, coming just two days after the first one which was filed by civil society and religious organizations, cited only one ground — betrayal of public trust.
The complainants said this would help expedite proceedings at the House.
The complaint cited Duterte’s alleged “abuse and misuse” of a total of P612.5 million in confidential funds in both the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd) when the Vice President served as concurrent Education secretary.
It was endorsed by Makabayan bloc lawmakers party-list Reps. France Castro (ACT), Arlene Brosas of Gabriela, and Raoul Manuel of Kabataan who urged their colleagues to follow their conscience when the complaints are put to a vote.
Meanwhile, President Marcos Jr. met House members in Malacañang, led by Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and majority leader Manuel Jose Dalipe.
The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) dismissed talks it was about the impeachments moves against Duterte.
The President over the weekend said he does not support an impeachment move which he said would just be a waste of time.
The PCO said, “The gathering is meant to be a fellowship between the Office of the President and members of the House of Representatives which was already scheduled some time ago.”
‘FISCAL IMPUNITY’
The complaint said the Vice President’s betrayal of public trust under Article XI of the Constitution “is evident in respondent’s actions represents a fundamental breach of the covenant between public servant and citizen — a breach so severe that it can only be remedied by her removal from office through impeachment with the penalty of permanent disqualification from holding public office.”
“It is time to put an end to the regime of fiscal impunity that has plagued the Office of the Vice President since 2022. More importantly, it is time to demand systemic reforms to prevent the future abuse of these shadowy funds that serve only to enrich the powerful few at the expense of the impoverished many. The Filipino people deserve no less,” it said.
The complaint also cited questionable signatories in acknowledgment receipts submitted by the OVP to the Commission on Audit (COA) as liquidation documents, where, a “Mary Jane Piattos” and a “Kokoy Villamin” were found to be among the recipients.
The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) has said the two signatories do not exist after checking its Civil Registry System, proof, lawmakers said, that the two names were fabricated.
The complainants are led by former Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Teodoro Casiño who is now Bayan chairperson, former Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Neri Colmenares, and former Gabriela party-list Rep. Liza Maza.
Among other complainants are the Alliance of Concerned Teachers, Kabataan party-list group, Gabriela Women’s Party, Rise Up for Life and Rights, Kilusang Mayo Uno, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, Karapatan, and Piston.
The first impeachment complaint filed Monday by civil society groups led by the Akbayan party-list group accuses the Vice President of culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, bribery, betrayal of public trust, and other high crimes for various acts.
It was also anchored on the Vice President’s alleged misuse of confidential funds and other violations such as her threat to have President Marcos Jr. assassinated, along with his wife Liza and cousin Speaker Martin Romualdez, in case she gets killed.
BETRAYAL
Colmenares said that betrayal of public trust constitutes various offenses, including violation of the Revised Penal Code, which makes it the best ground to use to expedite the proceedings.
“But more than just the mere grounds, we know that for the citizens the betrayal of public trust is a very important issue and that is for us, one of the highest if not the highest treachery ng isang public official,” he told reporters.
The Bayan-led complainants said they are willing to work with the Akbayan-led organizations despite their differences in political ideologies.
While the second complaint cited only one ground to expedite the impeachment process, it will still be consolidated by the House with the first complaint before it is referred by the plenary to the Committee on Justice.
EXPLANATION
The complaint said the “Constitution does not permit such cynical disregard for public trust” and “does not allow the Vice President to treat public funds as a personal war chest while stonewalling all attempts at oversight.”
“The magnitude of funds involved — P612.5 million in just eighteen months — demands explanation, not evasion. Each peso misspent represents a child without a classroom, a patient without medicine, a poor family without support,” it said.
The complaint said the respondent’s “brazen abuse of confidential funds validates the longstanding call of progressive and democratic organizations to abolish this opaque system of ‘black budgets’ that enables corruption through excessive discretion and minimal accountability.”
“The ease with which she manipulated these funds — fabricating documentation, misappropriating certifications, and obstructing oversight — demonstrates why such secretive allocations have no place in a democratic society that values transparency and genuine public service,” it said.
REFUSAL
The complaint also slammed Duterte’s conduct during and outside congressional hearings on her alleged misuse of public funds, which, it said, can be “regarded as contumacious as they violate the duties of a witness in the Rules in Aid of Legislation of the House of Representatives.”
“In particular, these are her refusal to obey orders of both House Committees on Appropriation and Good Government, including the order for her to appear in hearings and take her oath as resource person, refusal to answer relevant inquiries, and acting in a disrespectful manner towards any Member of the committee or any misbehavior in the presence of the Committee,” it said.
The complaint added: “It is therefore clear that respondent Duterte betrayed public trust through her gross dereliction of official duty, with her refusal to participate in the congressional deliberations for the budget of the OVP, her boycott of the same, and her similar actions in the congressional investigations in aid of legislation.”
House Secretary General Reginald Velasco said the House will process the complaint “in accordance with the Constitution and its Rules of Procedure in Impeachment Proceedings.”
‘NOT A FORGIVING PERSON’
Duterte, during the OVP’s Thanksgiving party last Tuesday, said she is not a “forgiving person.”
“Christmas is the time for forgiving, loving and giving… I always say that it depends on the person and because I’m Vice President, I have to deliver that message and talk about the spirit of Christmas. But personally, I’m not forgiving,” she said in mixed Filipino and English.
Duterte also reminded voters to be critical when choosing the candidates, saying political pedigree is not enough to win the people’s support during elections.
Meanwhile, Rep. Jude Acidre (PL, Tingog) filed an “anti-solicitation to murder” bill following Duterte’s statement about asking a hitman to kill the President, the First Lady and the Speaker.
“We cannot dismiss these kinds of statements. If it can be done to the highest official of the land, hat is stopping anyone from doing the same to our hapless countrymen?)” he said in Filipino.
The proposed legislation defines solicitation to murder as the act of urging, encouraging, or inducing another person to commit murder, whether directly or indirectly, with or without compensation or reward.
Duterte has backtracked, saying her supposed death threats were statements “maliciously taken out of logical context.”
