Senate Pres. Tito Sotto Speaks on Impeachment Complaints vs. VP Sara Duterte
TITO SOTTO – The Senate President revealed meeting with some majority senators to discuss the possibility of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment reaching the upper chamber.
Two (2) impeachment complaints against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte are currently rolling in the House of Representatives. The House Justice Committee found the said impeachment raps sufficient in form, substance, and grounds.
Here are some of the grounds cited against one of the impeachment complaints against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte:
- 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 has skipped two (2) of the impeachment hearings conducted by the House Justice panel. According to her lawyer, Atty. Michael Poa, they believe that the Senate is the “proper forum” for the discussion of the impeachment complaints against her.
Poa appeared during the latest impeachment hearing but clarified that his appearance does not undermine the defense of the Vice President. He also stressed that he is obliged to appear before the committee.
Four (2) impeachment complaints were filed against Duterte before the House Secretary General’s office. Previously, Senate Pres. Tito Sotto revealed that he sought the guide of his “justice friends” over the possible impeachment trial of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte.
According to the Senate Chief, he sought the guidance of two (2) lawyers from the Court of Appeals and one (1) from the Court of Tax Appeals. Recently, the Senate Chief spoke anew on the possibility of the Vice President’s impeachment reaching the upper chamber.
Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, Senate Pres. Tito Sotto revealed that he met with some of his fellow senators who belong in the majority bloc in the chamber. According to him, he gave them a heads up over the possibility that Vice Pres. Sara Duterte’s impeachment will reach the chamber.
“Yes I just wanted to give my colleagues a heads up on the possibility of receiving the articles of impeachment from the HOR. It’s best that we prepare for it as senator judges,” the Senate Chief said.
Furthermore, based on the report, Senate Pres. Tito Sotto also clarified that it was not a caucus. According to him, he only invited the majority senators who were in town for a dinner.
“It was not a caucus or Senate meet. I just invited majority senators who were in town for dinner. It was simply a dinner exchanging talks and expectations. Definitely not a caucus,” Sotto expressed.
Sotto also revealed that he is currently undergoing a crash program on the Rules of Court to jibe with the Senate rules. Previously, Sotto vowed to act “forthwith” with any impeachment case that will be transmitted to the Senate.
