New impeachment complaint filed against Sara Duterte
An impeachment complaint has been filed anew against Vice President Sara Duterte before the House of Representatives.
The Makabayan bloc announced in a press briefing that they have endorsed the complaint citing betrayal of public trust. It was submitted by progressive groups on Monday, Feb. 2.
"Alam naman ng taong bayan ang mga naganap nung nakaraan at hindi po natin bibigyan ng excuse 'yung second highest position in the land," the Makabayan bloc said. "Ang prayer po namin dito ay talagang makita ng committee on justice that the complaint is sufficient in form and substance and that there is probable cause to impeach Sara Duterte as Vice President."
"Sobrang tagal na itong hinihintay ng taong bayan. This has been a long delay," the group said. "Yung mga bumoto pabor sa impeachment nung 19th Congress, hinahamon namin, bumoto ng pabor dito sa mga sinampang impeachment complaint. Send these articles of impeachment directly to the Senate so that trial can commence forthwith. 'Wag na nating patagalin pa 'yung matagal na hinahantay ng accountability ng taong bayan."
This is the first impeachment complaint filed against the VP after the Supreme Court declared the articles of impeachment against her as unconstitutional. It affirmed its decision on Jan. 29.
In its July ruling, the SC voided an impeachment complaint against Duterte for the reason that it was transmitted to the Senate without a plenary vote. They also said that the fourth impeachment complaint is barred by the one-year rule in the Constitution because there were three complaints that came ahead of it.
The high court, at the time, noted it was not absolving the VP of the charges.
The House of Representatives appealed to the SC to reconsider its decision the following month. Former House Speaker Martin Romualdez said that they filed a motion for reconsideration with the SC as an "act of duty." He recounted that on Feb. 5, the fourth impeachment complaint, filed and signed by 215 House members, was submitted to the Senate, adding that the three earlier complaints against Duterte had been archived.
Duterte is accused of misusing public funds, amassing unusual wealth, and threatening to kill President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., the First Lady, and the House Speaker.
