A NEOPHYTE party-list lawmaker yesterday urged the House of Representatives to be decisive on impeaching Vice President Sara Duterte, saying that “ending impunity in the country should be the House leadership’s moral obligation.”
Rep. Percival Cendaña (PL, Akbayan), an endorser of the first impeachment complaint against Duterte, said the House “should defend its integrity and fight back by impeaching Vice President Sara Duterte.”
“Sa bawat araw na nakaupo si VP Sara sa pwesto (For every day that VP Sara continues to hold her post), we are enabling her to undermine our laws and to continuously perpetuate her family’s legacy of not answering to their crimes,” Cendaña said during the “Misa ng Sambayanan: May Kapayapaan kung May Katarungan” at the historic EDSA Shrine Church.
Co-led by the Akbayan party-list, the mass for justice and accountability was attended by impeachment complainants, various people’s organizations, social movements, sectoral formations and religious leaders.
“Our dilly-dallying over her impeachment has emboldened the Vice President to pursue the presidency. Ngayon pa lang, lantaran na ang kanyang pang-aabuso sa kapangyarihan. Asahan nating hihilahin niya ang bansa sa mas malalim na kumunoy sakaling manalo siya (This early, her abuse of power is already blatant. Let’s expect her to pull the country down a quicksand once she wins),” the lawmaker said.
The Vice President, who is so far facing three impeachment complaints filed by various cause-oriented groups, has said that she is seriously considering running for president in 2028, saying “what’s happening to the country now can no longer continue.”
House Secretary General Reginald Velasco earlier said he delayed the referral to the Office of the Speaker of the three impeachment complaints filed last month against Duterte to give more time to the complainants of the fourth complaint.
Last week, he said a group of administration congressmen had told him they were considering either endorsing one of the three impeachment complaints or filing another complaint.
Velasco said a group of 12 congressmen from both the majority and the minority blocs have also told him they are trying to meet the constitutional requirement of one-third signatories of all 310 House members, or 103 signatories to shorten the impeachment process.
The endorsements of 103 lawmakers will automatically constitute the Articles of Impeachment against the Vice President.
During the celebration of the Holy Mass, Cendaña wore a peach ribbon to signify the calls for impeachment, pointing out that the Vice President is already “winning” while the House is sitting on the complaints.
“Kung gusto natin ng kapayapaan, kailangan muna nating makamit ang hustisya (If we want peace, we first need to attain justice). We have to reflect, unite, and continuously pray as a nation upang matigil na ang bangungot na dulot sa atin ng mga Duterte (so that we can finally put an end to the nightmare brought about by the Dutertes). Alam ng kasaysayan natin ang kapangyarihan ng ating mga dasal (Our history knows the power of our prayers). Our prayers have the power to triumph over corrupt governments, as they have done in the past,” he said.
All the three impeachment complaints are anchored on the Vice President’s alleged misuse of hundreds of millions of confidential funds in both the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd), which she used to head as concurrent education secretary.
The first impeachment complaint was filed on December 2 by civil society and religious organizations led by Akbayan party-list and endorsed by Cendaña. It accuses the Vice President of culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, bribery, betrayal of public trust, and other high crimes.
The second complaint was filed just two days later by 72 individuals led by Bayan, which cited only one ground — betrayal of public trust, while the third complaint was filed on December 19 by religious groups and lawyers who also accused Duterte of willfully misusing public funds by fabricating the recipients of a total of P612.5 million in confidential funds disbursed by the OVP and the DepEd.
Velasco last week said House members could be hesitant to sign the impeachment complaints because of lack of material time to tackle and vote on the complaint as only 15 session days remain before the 19th Congress adjourns sine die in June.
NOT ENOUGH TIME
Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante confirmed this, saying many congressmen believe there is not enough time left to pursue the impeachment in the 19th Congress, especially since only 10 sessions days are left before the 90-day campaign period for the midterm elections officially begins on February 7.
He pointed out that while the three impeachment complaints haven’t even been processed by Velasco yet, there are now talks about the possibility of a fourth one which would need more time.
“In reality, though, there’s no time left. Ten session days is too short for that. And it’s not just that, it’s already campaign season, the elections are near, and then it will be transmitted to the Senate. And we’re not even sure if the Senate will take it up,” he told reporters.
Abante said he does not believe that the complainants will be able to muster the 103 signatories because many are “cold” to it because of the time constraints and other considerations.
He said no one has approached him to sign the complaints and the colleagues he has spoken to have also expressed reservations about signing, which he said, means that it would be best to set aside the complaint for now and pursue it the next Congress.
Mandaluyong City Rep. Neptali Gonzales II has said the complainants will have to wait for another year before they can file another complaint against the Vice President in case the 19th Congress fails to finish the impeachment process.
This is because the Constitution provides that only one impeachment complaint can be initiated against an impeachable official within a year.
Gonzales has also cited the Supreme Court’s ruling that an impeachment complaint is deemed initiated once the House plenary refers the complaint or consolidated complaints to the Committee on Justice.
Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile yesterday warned that the country could face a “very detrimental precedent” if it follows the call and suggestions raised by the Iglesia ni Cristo in its recent National Rally for Peace.
Enrile, in his Facebook account, also asked if the country is prepared to discard or sacrifice the value of the rule of law for just one person or a group of persons.
“Can the INC, with all its members, amend the Constitution or suspend any of its provisions? Are we prepared to discard or sacrifice the value of rule of law for a person or a group of persons? As a nation and a state, we will incur a very detrimental precedent if we follow the logic implicit in the INC rally that they mounted. Are we prepared and ready to face the long-term consequences of that INC move?” he asked.
Enrile explained that impeachment is a constitutional legal process to remove a government official from his or her office, if there is basis and evidence to support it.
He said the impeached official will not go to jail directly just because of his or her impeachment.
In succeeding posts, Enrile said that he is not against Vice President Sara Duterte and that he was just discussing “an important national issue that would impact on 100 (million) plus Filipinos.”
The INC, last January 13, led a peace rally at the Quirino grandstand and 12 other venues across the country.
Iglesia members called for unity and asked the country’s officials to prioritize the solving of problems and promoting the welfare of the Filipinos over politicking.
The group also backed the stand of President Marcos Jr. against moves to impeach the Vice President.
Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said the President has always nurtured a culture of open ventilation of ideas within the Cabinet, from which Enrile’s views stemmed.
Bersamin, however, said that while Enrile’s views are valued, Marcos’ stand on the impeachment stands.
“Policymaking is enriched by diverse views resulting in decisions distilled from a wealth of varied experiences, different disciplines, and special expertise of those who contribute. It is in this spirit that Secretary Enrile came forward with his views,” he said.
“While his thoughts may carry weight and are always valued, his is one of many that the President seriously considers. Nonetheless, the President’s stand on the issue concerned remains unchanged.”