January 6, 2025
Manila – As the House approaches a majority-backed fourth impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte, Deputy Minority Leader Frans Castro expects the move to oust the country’s second-highest official will gain ground momentum.
ACT teachers representatives said on Sunday that the Makabayan group may meet with other supporters of the impeachment complaint on Wednesday in a unified effort to oust Duterte.
“We welcome the fourth impeachment complaint,” she said.
“How is this different from the previous one? [impeachment]The complaint was strongly supported by the majority of coalition members,” she added.
READ: Vice President Sara Duterte could face fourth impeachment – House of Representatives
While Castro did not know the specifics of the fourth impeachment complaint expected to be filed on Monday, she noted that at least ten members of Congress aligned with the majority and minority blocs are supporting it.
“We still don't know which department the complainant belongs to, but what's important is that it's receiving unprecedented support from colleagues in Congress,” Castro said.
She asserted that the support reflected growing dissatisfaction with Duterte's performance and spending issues.
“This level of support cannot be underestimated,” the congressman said in Filipino. “It reflects serious concerns about Vice President Sala's conduct and the use of confidential funds.
She was referring to Duterte’s alleged misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds between December 2022 and September 2023 when he was secretary in the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education.
Lawmakers, especially members of the Makabayan bloc, are particularly concerned about Duterte's squandering of P125 million in confidential OVP funds for 11 consecutive days in December 2022.
“We wait [Monday’s] “We are filing the petition and hope it will expedite the impeachment complaint against the vice president,” Castro said.
“These accusations should be thoroughly investigated and justice served for the people,” she added in Filipino.
coordinate efforts
The Makabayan group also invited other members of Congress who support Duterte’s impeachment to a meeting tentatively scheduled for Wednesday (January 8) to “coordinate efforts to advance impeachment as House leadership appears to be stalling for time, Castro Luo said.
Antonio Tinio, a former ACT teachers representative, said majority support for the impeachment complaint is a very important thing.
“The fact that 10 to 12 representatives were willing to support the fourth complaint suggests that there may be a shift in the House leadership's position,” he added. “It's like a starting signal from the majority leadership,” he said .
The three impeachment charges against Duterte all mention her alleged misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds from the OVP and Deped.
The initial complaint was filed on December 2 by 16 people from various civil society and advocacy groups and relatives of victims of the bloody drug war, and was endorsed by Akbayan Rep. Percival Cendaña support.
It listed five grounds for impeachment, including: unconstitutionality; embezzlement and corruption; bribery; betrayal of public trust; and other felonies, including 24 articles or specific charges, including Duterte’s alleged role during Super Typhoon Karina. Abandoning duty and traveling to Germany in a crisis, and failing to condemn Chinese aggression in the West Philippine Sea.
The second complaint, backed by Makabayan bloc legislators, was filed on December 4 by more than 70 individuals from various walks of life, solely on the grounds of betrayal of public trust, which Duterte allegedly ” A serious abuse of discretion.” There was a “gross disregard” for transparency and accountability; as well as a dereliction of duty, she “willfully refused” to acknowledge Congress' authority to oversee and conduct investigations to assist with legislation.
A third document filed by Catholic priests, lawyers and civil society leaders on December 19 also cited five grounds for impeachment: serious violations of the constitution; betrayal of the public trust; bribery; embezzlement and corruption and other serious crimes, and was endorsed by South Korea. Supported by Camarine Rep. Gabriel Bordado Jr. and AAMBIS-OWA Rep. Lex Anthony Cris Colada.
In addition to the alleged misuse of confidential funds, the report also cited bribery by several Department of Education officials who received amounts ranging from 12,000 pesos to 50,000 pesos per month, allegedly to “influence” Duterte during his tenure as secretary of state. their decisions on the procurement process.
