On Tuesday, Vice President Sara Duterte said she welcomes the impeachment complaints filed against her. Two complaints were filed last week—one by civil society groups on December 2 and the other by people’s organizations on December 4.
Duterte said that the complaints allow her to explain her side and answer any accusations. She mentioned that the laws about impeachment are clear, and it’s good that the process is being followed.
Impeachment is when the government removes someone from office for serious wrongdoing. In the Philippines, the House of Representatives is in charge of starting impeachment cases. They look into the complaints, and if enough lawmakers agree, the case goes to the Senate for trial.
The complaints say that Duterte used confidential funds in a way that broke the rules, which led to accusations of betrayal of public trust. These complaints were filed by different groups, with one signed by Akbayan Rep. Perci Cendaña, and the other by lawmakers from the Makabayan bloc: ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro, Kabayan Rep. Raoul Manuel, and Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Arlene Brosas.
The law says that the House must act on these complaints, and if one-third of the House agrees, the case moves to trial in the Senate.
