Today, 75 complainants from various sectors, more thab 1/3 of whom are from the youth, several are public school teachers, government employees, religious leaders, workers and peasants, human rights victims along with former members of congress, came together in the House of Representatives to file an impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte for betrayal of public trust over the illegal use and mishandling of P612.5 million in confidential funds.
“The Vice President’s brazen misuse of more than half a billion pesos in confidential funds, particularly the suspicious liquidation of P125 million in just 11 days at the end of 2022, represents a grave betrayal of public trust. The Commission on Audit itself has flagged these expenditures as very questionable and not in accordance with the law and guidelines on the use of confidential funds,” said former Bayan Muna congressman and now BAYAN chairperson Teddy Casiño
“Ang paglustay ng confidential funds ay isang malaking pagtataksil sa taumbayan. Hindi lang ito simpleng technical violation kundi sistematikong paglulustay at pagnanakaw sa kaban ng bayan,” added Makabayan President Liza Maza
“The ground for the impeachment complaint is betrayal of public trust. The complaint cites three issues:
- Abuse, misuse and wastage of P612.5 million in confidential funds
- The systematic cover-up through fabricated accomplishment reports, receipts, and documents submitted to COA
- Deliberate obstruction of congressional investigation and oversight
“Nang mahuli ng Kamara ang anomalya, ginawa ni VP Duterte ang lahat para pagtakpan ang kanyang kasalanan at pigilan ang paghahanap ng katotohanan. Tumanggi siyang humarap sa budget hearings at mga imbestigasyon ng Kongreso. Taliwas ito sa sinumpaang tungkulin ng Vice-President na maging ísang accountable public official,” said former Bayan Muna congressman and impeachment counsel Neri Colmenares
“We call on Congress to act swiftly on this impeachment complaint. The Filipino people, especially our taxpayers who bear the burden of funding government operations, deserve accountability from their second highest official,” added Casiño
“Hindi dapat nilulustay ang pera ng taumbayan. Hindi dapat binababoy ang mga mekanismo ng accountability. The regime of fiscal impunity that has plagued the OVP since 2022 must end. VP Duterte must be held accountable through her removal from office and perpetual disqualification from holding public office,” emphasized Maza
The complainants urged the public to closely monitor these proceedings and join the growing clamor for transparency, accountability, and the complete abolition of all confidential funds that have become a source of corruption in government.
“We call on the House of Representatives to act on our complaint and transmit the same to the Senate as article of impeachment. We urge the Senate to conduct a fair and speedy trial and render justice to the Filipino people,” ended Colmenares. ###
