House impeaches Vice President Sara Duterte

A total of 215 lawmakers or more than two-thirds of the House’s 306 members backed the resolution that set forth the articles of impeachment to be transmitted to the Senate.

The move came nearly two months since three impeachment complaints were lodged against Duterte at the lower chamber, and nearly five months since the House formalized its inquiry into her alleged misuse of public funds as the country’s second-in-command, and Department of Education (DepEd) secretary.

The months-long investigation uncovered some damning revelations, from how she let her security personnel handle the confidential funds in apparent violation of government rules, to how the receipts she submitted to state auditors were signed by people with no birth records.

However, the non-referral of the petitions by the House secretary general to Speaker Martin Romualdez — which was necessary for the constitutional deadlines to start taking effect — sent early signals that lawmakers were unwilling to make such a crucial move against the Vice President.

Some lawmakers also took their cue from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who said he was against efforts to impeach his 2022 running mate.

Tuesday’s move, equivalent to an indictment, is another record low to the political saga between the two families, who roller-skated their way to the country’s two highest posts after forging a formidable alliance three years ago.

Moment of accountability

The complaint forwarded to the plenary is a new one, and appears to be a combination of the arguments presented in the first three complaints filed by the group fronted by former senator Leila de Lima, left-leaning organizations, and members of the clergy.

The complaint held Duterte accountable for violating the Constitution, in relation to the following incidents:

• Duterte saying she had a plot to assassinate President Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and Speaker Romualdez
• Duterte’s alleged illegal disbursement of P612.5 million in confidential funds as head of the OVP and education secretary
• Duterte’s alleged bribery of DepEd officials
• Duterte’s supposed unexplained wealth
• Duterte’s alleged involvement in the extrajudicial killings in Davao, based on the statement of former police officer Arturo Lascañas
• Duterte’s role in the alleged destabilization of, and sedition and insurrection against the government, when she skipped Marcos’ third State of the Nation Address, when she defended doomsday preacher Apollo Quiboloy, when she supposedly obstructed congressional probes by instructing her subordinates not to comply with subpoenas

Drama goes to the Senate

House rules say the lower chamber shall endorse the resolution to the Senate, which will be tasked to try the Vice President, with Senate President Francis Escudero presiding.

Under the rules of the Senate, the chamber “shall continue in session from day to day (except Saturdays, Sundays, and nonworking holidays) until final judgment shall be rendered, and so much longer as may, in its judgment, be necessary.”

A two-thirds vote is needed in the Senate to convict Duterte in order to remove her from office.

The timing of the impeachment trial will be as interesting as it gets, as it coincides with the three-month-long campaign period for national aspirants.

Four senators are mounting their reelection bids, while others are known to have aspirations for higher office in 2028. The politicians will have to carefully weigh the pros and cons of offending the Duterte base. Two senators — Bato dela Rosa and Bong Go — are seeking reelection under former president Rodrigo Duterte‘s party.

Sara Duterte is only the second elective official, post-EDSA, to be impeached, and if the trial pushes through, will only be the third sitting official to be tried by the Senate, after former president Joseph Estrada in 2000, and former chief justice Renato Corona in 2011. – Rappler.com