After months of speculation, an official impeachment complaint was filed against Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday. The complaint accuses her of abuse of power and corruption, marking a significant development in Philippine politics.
The complaint was formally submitted to the House of Representatives at 4:30 PM by House Secretary General Reginald Velasco. It was endorsed by Akbayan Representative Perci Cendaña and backed by a coalition of civil society organizations, religious leaders, sectoral representatives, and families of victims from former President Rodrigo Duterte’s controversial drug war.
What Are the Charges?
The complaint outlines serious accusations, including:
- Graft and corruption
- Bribery
- Betrayal of public trust
- Violation of the Constitution
- Other high crimes (excluding treason)
These allegations aim to hold Vice President Duterte accountable for her actions while in office.
Support and Optimism from the Opposition
Rep. Perci Cendaña expressed confidence that his fellow lawmakers would support the complaint despite President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s earlier plea to halt impeachment efforts. Cendaña stated, “This is our institution’s responsibility. We must ensure that this complaint gets a fair hearing.”
He added that the evidence presented is strong, and he hopes other members of Congress will see the merit of the case.
House Leaders’ Position
While House leaders have downplayed the likelihood of impeachment, they acknowledged that Congress has a duty to act on complaints filed by citizens. President Marcos called the impeachment efforts a “waste of time,” arguing that such moves do not benefit ordinary Filipinos.
However, the Makabayan bloc criticized the President for allegedly interfering with Congress, calling it a violation of the separation of powers. They accused Marcos of protecting Duterte despite allegations of misconduct and her controversial statements.
Controversial Confidential Funds
One of the key issues in the impeachment case involves the alleged misuse of ₱612.5 million in confidential funds by Duterte’s Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd) during her tenure as Education Secretary.
The House of Representatives had previously reallocated Duterte’s ₱650 million in confidential funds to security agencies, sparking a House investigation. Duterte called the inquiry a politically motivated attack, accusing House Speaker Martin Romualdez of using it to further his alleged presidential ambitions.
Impeachment Process
Under the Philippine Constitution, the impeachment process follows strict guidelines to ensure fairness:
- The House Secretary General refers the complaint to the Speaker.
- The Speaker includes it in the Order of Business within 10 session days.
- The House Committee on Justice then reviews the complaint for sufficiency in form and substance within three session days.
This process underscores the seriousness of impeachment and its role in maintaining accountability within the government.
A Heated Political Landscape
The impeachment effort adds to the growing tension between Duterte and other political figures. Duterte recently claimed that she was aware of plans to remove her from office and accused Romualdez of aiming for the presidency.
As the impeachment process unfolds, it highlights the complex and often contentious nature of Philippine politics. Whether this complaint will gain enough traction to succeed remains to be seen.
