Impeachment complainants push House to act on Duterte raps

Metro Manila, Philippines - Act on the three impeachment cases against Vice President Sara Duterte, ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro and the complainants urged the House of Representatives on Wednesday, Jan. 8.

Castro and some of the complainants met at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City as the cases filed in December remain idle.

“Malinaw sa mensahe ng ating mga complainants na narito ngayon ‘yung dapat na aksyunan na ng House of Representatives itong mga hinain na complaint,” Castro said in a press briefing.

[Translation: The complainants’ message is clear: the House of Representatives should act on the complaint.]

“Whether they consolidate it, whether may susuportahan silang isa lang [they support just one], whatever it is they have to act within the session days allotted until Feb. 7,” said Teddy Casiño, former lawmaker and one of the complaint signatories.

The three complaints, which have not yet been referred to the House justice committee, have a total of 111 signatories.

The Makabayan party-list bloc, of which Castro is a member, earlier launched a signature drive among House members.

Castro said the group lacks the required number for the complaint to be transmitted to the Senate without a House hearing.

The complainants said they are hoping the cases will be transmitted to the Senate before Congress adjourns on Feb. 8 to give way for the midterm election in May. They said they are open to the possibility of a protracted process.

“The trial will most likely magpapatuloy ito hanggang sa susunod na Kongreso kaya nga importante ‘yung eleksyon to ensure that pro-impeachment senators are elected,” Casiño said.

[Translation: The trial will most likely continue until the next Congress that is why it is important to elect pro-impeachment senators in the elections.]

The complainants said they will mount protest actions this month to appeal for House action.

Duterte has been the subject of the House good government and public accountability inquiry on the supposed misuse of the ₱612.5-million confidential funds of the Office of the Vice President and the Education Department that she handled.

The investigation became the basis of the impeachment cases, with complainants citing betrayal of public trust and graft and corruption as their basis.

Impeachment poll

Meanwhile, a commissioned survey said less than half or 41 percent of Filipinos are in favor of ousting the vice president.

According to a Social Weather Stations survey commissioned by the Stratbase Group, 35 percent oppose such moves, and 24% are either undecided (19 percent) and do not know enough (five percent.

“The call for Duterte’s impeachment resonates most strongly in Balance Luzon, where 50% of Filipinos advocate for her removal,” the survey said.

“This stark contrast to Mindanao, Duterte's traditional bailiwick, where 56% oppose the impeachment, underscores the growing cracks in her support base,” it added.

The survey said the Visayas was the most undecided.

Meanwhile, 46 percent believe the supposed unexplained confidential fund spending “may be the best basis to impeach Duterte.”

The SWS survey, with a margin of error of ±2, was conducted on Dec. 12 to 18 among 2,160 respondents.