House Member Speaks on VP Sara Duterte’s Impeachment Proceedings Anew
SARA DUTERTE’S IMPEACHMENT – House member Joel Chua claimed that the proceedings is allegedly a “test of fitness” for the Vice President.
Vice Pres. Sara Duterte is currently faced with two (2) impeachment complaints that were found sufficient in grounds by the House of Representatives’ Committee on Justice. The said impeach raps were also found sufficient in form and substance.
The House Justice panel was allowed to continue the proceedings of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte’s impeachment complaints despite the Congressional recess. It set the dates for the hearing and the next inquiry is on April 14.
Two (2) other impeachment complaints were filed against Duterte aside from the two (2) impeachment raps that were found sufficient in grounds. The first impeachment complaint was set aside for violating the one year rule ban.
Tindig Pilipinas withdrew the impeachment complaint they filed to avoid procedural delays. Instead, they supported the third impeachment rap filed against Vice Pres. Duterte which cited 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
Vice Pres. Sara Duterte skipped the first hearing of the impeachment complaints filed against him. According to her lawyer, Atty. Michael Poa, the Vice President is supposedly not obliged to personally appear at the hearing.
Recently, House committee on good government and public accountability chairman Rep. Joel Chua spoke anew on Vice Pres. Sara Duterte’s impeachment proceedings. Based on a report on Inquirer, Chua claimed that it is allegedly essential to assess if a government official remains fit to hold a government position.
“Alam po ninyo, ito pong impeachment, ito po ay test of fitness ng ating mga leader,” he said.
Speaking to ANC, House Rep. Joel Chua further claimed that the actions of the national leaders can supposedly affect not only the domestic results but as well as the global conditions. He stressed that all sorts of crises may allegedly affect the country.
“Because lahat po ng act ng leader ng bansa ay puwedeng makaapekto sa bansa at sa buong mundo kagaya ng ating nararanasan ngayon which is itong oil crisis,” Chua expressed.
Based on the report, the House member stressed that it is important that the Vice President gets to clean her name from the issues before she will possibly win the presidency in the next elections. Vice Pres. Sara Duterte previously confirmed that she will run for president in 2028.
