House Makabayan bloc blames Marcos for VP impeachment delay

Metro Manila, Philippines - The pronouncements of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. have delayed the progress of impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte, the Makabayan party-list bloc claimed on Wednesday, Jan. 22.

The three impeachment complaints filed against Duterte in December are still in the House Secretary General’s Office.

In a joint statement, Gabriela Women’s Rep. Arlene Brosas, ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro, and Kabataan Rep. Raoul Manuel condemned what they claimed as the president’s meddling.

“Never in the history of Congress have we witnessed impeachment complaints languishing in the secretary general's office for more than a month,” Makabayan bloc representatives said.

“This interference represents a dangerous obstruction of constitutional processes and democratic accountability,” they said.

Marcos has frowned upon the complaint as it will not benefit Filipinos.

Other lawmakers believed there was no presidential meddling.

“Hindi ako naniniwalang may interference [I do not believe there is interference],” Surigao del Norte Rep. Ace Barbers told reporters in a chance interview.

“Inaantay pa ‘yung mga ibang complaints para isahan po na ma-tackle if ever po na may oras pa po tayo. ‘Yun ang nagiging concern talaga, ‘yung oras po na natitira sa session,” House Deputy Majority Leader Paolo Ortega said in a separate ambush interview.

[Translation: We’re waiting for other complaints so we can tackle it altogether, if we still have time. That is the concern, the remaining session time.]

The session will adjourn on Feb. 8 for the election period. It will resume on June 2. The 19th Congress will have a sine die adjournment on June 14.

The Makabayan bloc appealed to its colleagues to assert their mandate and not be influenced by the executive.

Investigated for her supposed mismanagement of millions of confidential funds, Duterte has been facing three impeachment cases on the grounds of plunder, graft and corruption, and betrayal of public trust among others.

NewsWatch Plus reached out to Malacanang for a comment.