The Real Reason Impeachment Cannot Be Ignored, Says Chel Diokno
CHEL DIOKNO – Questions continue to surface about the relevance of impeachment, but Chel Diokno offered a firm explanation during a recent House hearing.
Akbayan Party-list Rep. Chel Diokno addressed growing public concerns over the relevance of impeachment proceedings amid the country’s pressing economic challenges, including low wages, rising prices of basic goods, and the ongoing oil crisis linked to tensions in the Middle East. His remarks came during a House Committee on Justice hearing held on Tuesday, May 4, where lawmakers tackled impeachment complaints filed against Vice President Sara Duterte.
During the session, Diokno pushed back against criticisms questioning the timing and importance of the impeachment process. He emphasized that impeachment is not just another political exercise but a constitutional mechanism designed to uphold accountability among the nation’s highest-ranking officials.
“Of course,” said Diokno, “alam natin na ang kaduluhan ng impeachment ay pananagutan. Pero kailangan siguro nating bigyang-diin na ito ay hindi ordinaryong proseso.”
He further explained that impeachment holds a unique role in governance, serving both as a tool for accountability and as a means to determine whether a public official remains fit to hold a position of immense authority and responsibility.
“Ang impeachment ay likha mismo ng ating Konstitusyon para magkaroon tayo ng isang mabisa at mabilis na mekanismo hindi lang sa pananagutan kundi para malaman kung tampat o hindi ang isang lingkod-bayan na napakataas ng power at responsibility,” he added.
Diokno also underscored the broader consequences of failing to hold public officials accountable, particularly pointing to corruption as a direct outcome. He warned that every instance of misuse of public funds ultimately harms taxpayers.
“Ang bawat pisong nawawala sa korupsiyon na napupunta sa bulsa ng isang opisyal ay pisong ninanakaw sa pinaghirapang pera ng ating mga taxpayer,” he said.
Despite ongoing debates, the House Committee on Justice approved, without objection, reports containing the articles of impeachment against the Vice President. This development signals a significant step forward in the process.
Meanwhile, Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon noted that the House is expected to move toward impeaching Vice President Sara Duterte again in the coming week, indicating that the issue will remain at the forefront of national political discourse.
