FOLLOWING the raucous budget deliberation which yielded a scene never before seen since the creation of Congress, former Senator Leila de Lima finds the Vice President Sara Duterte’s stubbornness and arrogance more than enough for an impeachment case to be filed.
“The audacity of VP Sara in the House budget hearing is extraordinary and has never been seen before in the entire history of Congress,” reads part of De Lima’s statement.
According to De Lima, it is not possible for an impeachable official to be detained for contempt. She however noted that Congress may consider what she aptly described as logical resort – to impeach her for refusal to respond to the queries of the appropriations committee members over the proposed 2025 budget for the OVP.
Citing the constitutional provisions on public accountability, De Lima also took a swipe at Duterte’s ignorance of the law – or wanton disrespect to the rule of law for which her family is known for.
“Since it may not be legally feasible for an impeachable official to be detained for contempt of Congress, a logical recourse of the House in light of her refusal to defend her own budget is to grant her an appropriation of one peso or to significantly slush the OVP budget.
Relatedly, the former senator who once served as Justice Secretary, clarified that the OVP does not enjoy fiscal autonomy.
“Of course, the House can also impeach her for betrayal of public trust since her disregard for the constitutional provisions on public accountability and the appropriation process which involves public funds seems willful and deliberate, and not simply due to her gross ignorance of the Constitution and the law.”
Duterte on Tuesday sparred with members of the House appropriations committee as she repeatedly refused to answer questions regarding the use of her confidential funds in 2022 and 2023.
The deliberation, which took two hours, compelled the panel to defer the approval of the OVP’s proposed budget for the next calendar year. (ANGEL F. JOSE)
