House clueless on Duterte impeachment source

Metro Manila, Philippines — House lawmakers said they are clueless as to the source of a supposed impeachment initiative - or not - against Vice President Sara Duterte.

Unconfirmed reports have circulated regarding an alleged text message from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. that discouraged the move since such a complaint is “unimportant.”

In a press briefing on Thursday, Nov. 28, the lawmakers said they have not received any communication from the House leadership.

“Wala tayong kasiguraduhan kung saan nga po nanggaling yung text messages na iyan pero kung ang pinag-uusapan ay impeachment, lahat naman ng tao may karapatan na mag-file ng impeachment at siguro nasa kanya-kanyang konsensya na ‘yan ng mga bawat miyembro ng Kamara kung susuporta sila sa impeachment na may magpa-file,” Zambales 1st District Rep. Jay Khonghun said.

[Translation: We are not sure where those text messages came from. But if we are talking about impeachment, each person has a right to file it and it is upon the conscience of each House member if they will support the complaint.]

La Union 1st District Rep. Paolo Ortega added that the information should be verified.

“‘Yung mga bali-balita na mga maririnig natin na kung anu-anong sinabi ng ganito, balita ni ganito, but as you can see in the House of Representatives, hindi naman po kami nalihis. Hindi rin po kami natamaan ng mga diversionary tactics,” Ortega said.

[Translation: Despite such news from here and there, you can see in the House of Representatives, we remain focused. We are not affected by diversionary tactics.]

Lawmakers said there are no talks of an impeachment given their busy schedule.

On the sidelines of a panel hearing on Wednesday, former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV said that an impeachment complaint against Duterte will be filed, but he did not mention the complainant or the date of filing.

Trillanes, a staunch critic of the Duterte family, said an impeachment complaint against Duterte is already “ripe.”