Vice President Sara Duterte 鈥� File photo from the House of Representatives
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Leaders of the House of Representatives have decided to let the Department of Justice (DOJ) determine Vice President Sara Duterte鈥檚 criminal liability for her alleged death threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
This developed as the House concurrently addressed two impeachment complaints covering the same allegations.
READ: VP Sara Duterte faces 2nd impeachment rap
House Committee on Women and Gender Equality Chairperson and Bataan 1st District Rep. Geraldine Roman on Sunday underscored the separation of powers. She said that Congress would focus on the impeachment proceedings while the DOJ would handle potential criminal liability.
鈥淭hat is a totally separate and independent process. We each have our jobs. As far as we are concerned, we have the mandate to process this impeachment complaint,鈥� Roman said, partly in Filipino, in a statement.
She further stressed the need for government agencies 鈥渢o work independently and transparently.鈥�
鈥淲e鈥檙e not the ones who are going to tell the justice department to do their work. But we should let our government agencies do their work freely, independently, with transparency, with honesty,鈥� she said.
Meanwhile, Assistant Majority Leader and Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre said it would be important for the public to understand the distinction between the impeachment process in Congress and the DOJ鈥檚 criminal investigation.
鈥淭his is under the DOJ, a separate process within the executive branch involving the criminal liability of the vice president. This is different from the impeachment process in the lower house, which is a political and legislative procedure,鈥� Acidre explained in Filipino.
The first impeachment complaint, filed on Monday by civil society and religious groups, accuses Duterte of culpable violations of the Constitution, graft and corruption, bribery, betrayal of public trust, and high crimes.
READ: First impeachment complaint vs VP Sara filed at House
This includes the reported death threats she supposedly made against the country鈥檚 top leaders.
Meanwhile, the second impeachment complaint filed on Wednesday, cites betrayal of public trust, focusing on various issues related to the use of confidential funds by the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education, which she previously chaired.