Akbayan Leader Says VP Sara Duterte Should Attend Impeachment Trial To Speed Up Process
SARA DUTERTE – The Vice President reacted to the challenge of an Akbayan leader to attend her impeachment trial if she wants speedy process.
The impeachment trial of Vice Pres. Duterte is ongoing. The Senate impeachment court is led by former Senate Pres. Francis “Chiz” Escudero. However, Escudero’s lead is not supported by all of the senator-judges.
Eight (8) senators from the minority bloc previously opposed Escudero being the Senate impeachment court’s presiding officer. The bloc led by House Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano believes that the presiding officer should be Senate Pres. Sherwin Gatchalian.
As for Gatchalian, he supports Escudero’s lead. Sen. Ping Lacson previously claimed that it was even Gatchalian who raised the idea of Escudero being elected as the presiding officer of the impeachment court.
Presidential sister and Sen. Imee Marcos previously claimed that the Senate allegedly spends P25 Million daily amid the impeachment trial of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte. The Vice President previously wanted the Senate to shoulder the food expenses of the defense team and the chamber’s leadership declined it.
Here are some of the grounds raised against Duterte in one of the impeachment complaints filed against her before the House of Representatives which was found substantial in form, substance, and grounds by the House justice panel:
- Alleged culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust, and other high crimes in amassing and converting the amount over PHP 500 million confidential funds (CF) allocated to the Office of the Vice President from 2022 to 2023
- Alleged culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust, and other high crimes in amassing and converting the amount of not less than PHP 112.5 million of confidential funds allocated to the Department of Education (DepEd) for the year 2023
- Alleged culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust by corrupting and bribing officials of the DepEd
- Alleged culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, and other high crimes in contracting to murder or assassinate the president, the first lady, and the former speaker of the House
- Alleged culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust in amassing unexplained wealth and failing to disclose all her properties and interests in properties in her SALN
- Alleged culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust in committing acts of political destabilization and the high crimes of sedition and insurrection
Recently, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte expressed her desire that for her impeachment trial to move fast. She cited that the Constitution supposedly states “speedy administration”.
“Gusto lang sana namin ay mapabilis ‘yung proseso dahil hindi pwedeng tumatagal yung proseso natin na nag-iisip yung mga tao na ‘Ano ba? Totoo ba na may ginawang masama? Hindi ba totoo ‘yung mga akusasyon?’” Duterte said.
The remarks of the Vice President earned a challenge from Akbayan Citizens’ Action Party National Pres. Rafaela David. According to David, the Vice President should “show up” if she wants a speedy trial.
Based on News5, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte reacted to the challenge of the Akbayan. As per a post, the Vice President stressed that she is “fully represented” by her lawyers and she cannot do anything that could help in the impeachment process.
“Hindi totoo ‘yon… Fully-represented ako nung ating Defense team… Hindi naman ako abogado para sa impeachment doon so wala akong matutulong doon sa proseso,” the Vice President said.
Recently, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte cancelled her trip to Japan.
