It feels great to return to column writing after a two-month hiatus due to my commitments in the Senate. During this time, I’ve had the chance to reflect on numerous issues affecting our society, and I’m eager to share my insights and engage with you once again.
After the lengthy and arduous legislative process of approving next year’s P6.352-trillon national budget that culminated in its passage in the upper chamber last week, I, along with the rest of the Senate employees who have been deprived of sleep during the intense budget debates, am eagerly anticipating a restful and leisurely holiday break.
But with the looming impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte, the atmosphere has now become tense and uncertain. Last Monday, 16 individuals from various civil society and advocacy groups, along with relatives of victims of the bloody drug war, filed a complaint in the House of Representatives seeking the ouster of the Vice President.
The complaint cites five of the six grounds for impeachment outlined in the 1987 Constitution. All but treason was listed as a ground for Duterte’s impeachment in the 33-page complaint, former Sen. Leila de Lima, the group’s designated spokesperson, pointed out.
Among those who filed the complaint in their personal capacity were former presidential adviser on the peace process Teresita Deles; Catholic priests Flaviano Villanueva and Robert Reyes; nuns Susan Santos Esmile and Mary Grace de Guzman; political science lecturer Francis Joseph Aquino Dee; Gary Alejano, Maria Yvonne Cristina Jereza, and Eugene Louie Gonzalez, the Magdalo group led by former Sen. Sonny Trillanes; Alice Murphy of the Urban Poor Associates; Sylvia Estrada Claudio, former dean of the University of the Philippines’ College of Social Work and Community Development; singer Leah Navarro; and Randy Francisco delos Santos, uncle of drug war casualty Kian delos Santos.
The complaint cited nine articles under culpable violation of the constitution as well as graft and corruption; four articles under bribery and illegal wealth accumulation; two for betrayal of public trust, particularly for abandoning duties during Super Typhoon Carina and leaving for Germany amid a crisis, and her failure to condemn Chinese aggression in the West Philippine Sea; and nine articles for other high crimes.
Also included in the case was Duterte’s alleged failure to account for P612.5 million in confidential funds from the last quarter of 2022 to the first three quarters of 2023, both in the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd) during her tenure as secretary.
The Lower House’s Secretary General, Reginald Velasco, formally received the impeachment complaint and assured the petitioners that it would be acted upon. However, he initially noted that Congress might not have enough time to undertake the process, given the upcoming Christmas break from December 21 to January 12. Additionally, Congress will have an extended break from February 8, 2025, to June 1, 2025, due to the mid-term elections.
But then again, as the saying goes: “Kung gusto, may paraan…” The House of Representatives can expedite the process and pass it on to the Senate, which will act as the impeachment court. This would allow the Senate to commence the trial and ensure that the case is addressed promptly, despite the upcoming breaks.
While President Marcos has already expressed his personal view on the matter and has discouraged legislators to file an impeachment case against Duterte, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin has said that the complaint filed in the House of Representatives by several private citizens “is clearly the complainants’ independent initiative, and its endorsement the prerogative of any Member of the House of Representatives.”
For his part, Senate President Chiz Escudero has not commented on the issue except to call on his colleagues in the upper chamber to refrain from publicly commenting on the impeachment complaint against the Vice President.
He, however, assured the public that the Senate is ready to fulfill its constitutional mandate with integrity and impartiality while upholding the national interest.
“The Senate stands ready to fulfill its constitutional mandate with integrity and impartiality while upholding the national interest,” he declared.#
