December 6, 2024
Manila – House leaders on Thursday dismissed speculation that lawmakers are gathering in Malacañang this week to discuss how to handle two impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte, despite President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s call for lawmakers not to Waste of time on this matter.
Cars and buses took House members to the palace Wednesday night, hours after a second complaint was filed in the House, amid widespread speculation that the impeachment case would be discussed with the president.
READ: House pledges support to Marcos
But both the House of Representatives and the Presidential Palace downplayed the gathering as just a pre-arranged “Christmas dinner.”
declaration
But the “networking” night proved not entirely apolitical, as the House majority, led by Speaker Martin Romualz, the president's cousin, issued a manifesto supporting Mr. Marcos against “internal and external threats.” , these threats seek to undermine our independence, security and democracy. The two-page statement did not specify where the threats came from.
However, the presidential palace said last week that the president was “actively threatened” after Duterte revealed that she had arranged to assassinate the president and his wives, Lisa Araneta-Marcos and Romualdez, if the plot to kill him succeeded. ”.
“Any threat against the president is a threat to the republic. We will remain vigilant and resolute to ensure his security and the stability of the government,” the congressman said.
The manifesto makes it clear that the House of Representatives will use its powers to thwart attempts to destabilize the Marcos administration and undermine its leadership.
use all resources
“We will stand united with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. at all costs to preserve and defend the Constitution, ensure the well-being of our people, and safeguard the future of our country,” the statement said.
The MPs vowed to “mobilize all legislative resources to protect the republic from threats to its independence, security and peace”.
In addition to Romualdez, the declaration was signed by Majority Leader Manuel Dalipe and Senior Vice Speaker Aurelio González Jr., as well as leaders of various pro-government parties.
Among them are Jose Aquino II (Agusan del Norte), secretary-general of the Christian Muslim Democratic Party of Lacas; L-Ray Villafuerte (Camarines Sur), National Unity Party; Robert Ace Babers, a senior member of the Nationalist Party Surigao del Norte); Federalist Party of the Philippines Florida Robe (San José del Monte); and Partido Navoteño Chairman Toby Tiangco (Navotas).
At a news conference on Thursday, Deputy Majority Leader and La Union Rep. Pablo Ortega V said Wednesday night’s “long-planned gathering” was intended to express support for the government support.
Still, he said, “the president was very moved and [it was clear] That [manifesto] It means a lot to him.
Thanks for the encouragement
Asked if the president was once again calling on his allies not to support the impeachment complaint, Ortega said simply: “No.”
Rep. Joel Chua of Manila, chairman of the House Good Government Committee investigating Mr. Duterte’s alleged misuse of classified funds, said in a television interview that there was no discussion of impeachment and that Mr. Marcos “just thanked us and encouraged us to continue our work”. Work. “
Ortega said there was “no lobbying” for impeachment.
“We have been very focused [on] The hearing, whether our findings amount to an impeachable (crime) remains to be seen, but I can tell you that so far, most people have not collectively discussed it,” he said.
Two separate impeachment charges accuse the vice president of misusing P612.5 million in confidential funds and threatening the president.
Both were proposed by civil society groups and endorsed by opposition lawmakers.
Under the 1987 Constitution, a vote of at least one-third of the House of Representatives (or about 103 votes in the 307-member House) is sufficient to confirm a “favorable resolution” of the impeachment committee or to overturn a “contrary resolution.”
Duterte will be considered impeached if a verified complaint of impeachment is filed by at least one-third of the House of Representatives, which will constitute the articles of impeachment and will be sent to the Senate for trial.
It takes three-quarters of the Senate to convict and remove the vice president.
On Thursday, members of Makabayan's group began collecting at least 106 signatures for this week's second impeachment complaint against Duterte, aiming to send it immediately to the Senate for trial.
critical test
If all members of Congress who attended the Malacañang party on Wednesday night signed the indictment expressing support for Marcos, impeachment would have the support of more than a third of the House of Representatives.
Deputy Minority Leader France Castro, a Makabayan member, said the impeachment proceedings were a “severe test” of Congress' commitment to justice and accountability for the nation's top public officials.
Other Makabayan members include Assistant Minority Leader Gabriela Women's Party Rep. Arlene Brosas and Kabataan Party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel.
Makabayan lawmakers approved the multi-agency impeachment complaint filed by more than 70 people on Wednesday against Duterte for allegedly misusing P612.5 million in confidential OVP and Department of Education funds, including spending them in just 11 days 125 million pesos, a betrayal of public trust.
Akbayan Party-list Rep. Percival Cendaña, who supports the first impeachment charge against Duterte, said Filipinos are demanding the vice president be held accountable and remove her from office.
The first complaint is based on five grounds of impeachment: guilty of violation of the Constitution; embezzlement and corruption; bribery; betrayal of the public trust; and other high crimes. It listed 24 specific allegations.
