Sara Duterte responds to impeachment complaint
Vice President Sara Duterte has responded to the two impeachment complaints against her on March 16, according to Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon.
As per a GMA News report, Duterte filed her consolidated answer ad cautelam before the House of Representatives Committee on Justice at 4:30 p.m. on Monday.
News5 also reported that one of Duterte's lawyers, Atty. Michael Poa, confirmed this.
According to him, the response questioned the constitutionality of the impeachment raps, citing alleged "due process issues and double standards in the panel's assessment of the complaints."
"We raised due process issues because of what we feel sa aming pananaw ay hindi naging uniform 'yung standards ng pag-determine ng sufficiency in form and substance doon sa naging impeachment complaints laban sa ating Pangulo at impeachment complaints laban sa ating kalawang Pangulo," he said, as per News5. It can be recalled that the House panel ruled that the two impeachment complaints against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. lacked substance in February.
"Ultimate facts po kasi, 'yan po 'yung mga facts that will constitute 'yung sinasabi nilang mga alleged offenses ng ating bise presidente. Ang sa atin, sinasabi natin na hindi po naglalaman ng ultimate facts 'yung mga complaints na naihain laban sa bise presidente, kaya po sa totoo lang, wala tayong maisasagot sa kanila."
On March 4, the House panel deemed the third and fourth impeachment complaints, filed by Fr. Sballa et al. and Atty. Nathaniel Cabrera, respectively, against the VP sufficient in substance.
The third complaint, endorsed by ML Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima, accused Duterte of culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, plunder and/or malversation, bribery, graft and corruption, and other high crimes.
The fourth one, endorsed by House Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega and Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante, likewise cited violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, graft and corruption, and other high crimes as grounds of impeachment.
The first complaint was set aside for violating the one-year bar rule, while the second was withdrawn as it's similar to the third rap.
