VP Sara Duterte’s Camp Speaks on Impeachment Proceedings vs. Client
SARA DUTERTE – The camp of the Vice President said they are not just pushing for victory but to show the Filipinos that she’s not corrupt.
The House of Representatives’ Committee on Justice continued with the impeachment proceedings amid the Duterte camp questioning its constitutionality. The Vice President previously sought for a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) to stop the House Justice panel from the conduct of the impeachment proceedings.
The camp of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte believes that the Senate is the proper venue to discuss the impeachment complaints against the VP. Two (2) impeachment raps against the Vice President were found substantial in form, substance, and grounds by the House Justice panel.
There were initially four (4) fresh impeachment raps filed against Duterte in February. The first one was set aside by the panel for violating the one year ban rule while the second iimpeachment complaint was withdrawn by Tindig Pilipinas group, the complainants behind it.
Tindig Pilipinas decided to support the third impeachment rap against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte. Thus, the withdrawal of their complaint is a way to avoid procedural delays. The third impeachment rap raises the following grounds:
- 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, the House Justice panel conducted the third impeachment hearing. Vice Pres. Sara Duterte’s camp asserted that they are not only after winning the complaints filed against the Vice President.
According to the lawyer of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte, Atty. Michael Poa, they are also after showing the Filipino people that the Vice President is not corrupt. Based on News5, he stressed that they are not there to lose.
“We only have one target: It’s not just to win, but actually to show the general public… na walang katotohanan sa mga katiwalian na binabato sa ating Bise Presidente,” Poa said.
Based on the post, the camp of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte is ready to provide more evidence against the accusations surrounding the VP. Atty. Michael Poa said they are ready to present it if the proceedings reach the Senate.
“We’re here to protect the rights of our client, we’re here to show the evidence, to present the evidence, to test the evidence of the prosecution and to show the Filipino people na hindi kurap ang ating Bise,” the lawyer said.
Former Sen. Antonio Trillanes appeared at the House impeachment hearing. Shortly after his accusations, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte released a statement against Trillanes.
