Vice President Sara Duterte answers questions from reporters during the media thanksgiving party at the Office of the Vice President headquarters in Mandaluyong City on Wednesday, December 11, 2024. INQUIRER PHOTO / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� As no fourth impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte has been filed before the House of Representatives, Secretary General Reginald Velasco said on Monday that the three petitions will be forwarded to the Office of the Speaker this week.
鈥淚t鈥檚 still with me, but we have to act on it this week. We will act on it this week鈥� The deadline is this week),鈥� Velasco said in a mix of English and Filipino in an ambush interview after being asked about having different self-imposed deadlines.
鈥淎s of now, there is no fourth impeachment complaint. You know, I think we have given them enough time, so we will have to transmit the impeachment complaints within this week,鈥� he added.
The possibility of a fourth impeachment rap was first raised by Velasco last January 2.
He said there was a group of 12 majority and minority lawmakers who signified their intention to file a fourth impeachment complaint against Duterte, with the aim of fast-tracking it by having one-third of the House 鈥� at least 103 members 鈥� sign the petition.
READ: VP Sara Duterte might face 4th impeachment rap 鈥� House
Velasco said he would give this group a chance to gather signatures before he forwards the first three complaints filed in December 2024 to Romualdez鈥檚 office by January 23.
READ: Some solons looking for endorsers to expedite VP Duterte鈥檚 impeachment
However, Velasco鈥檚 office has been silent after his self-imposed deadline passed, leading ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro 鈥� one of the three endorsers of the second impeachment rap 鈥� to say that she does not feel that there is a fourth impeachment complaint being prepared.
Last January 23, Castro said it would be better if there would be a fourth complaint. However, if there were to be no fourth complaint, Castro said the three raps lodged at Velasco鈥檚 office must already be forwarded to Romualdez.
READ: Velasco: VP Sara impeach raps to be processed if no new cases are coming
Other camps have also aired their frustration about the lack of action regarding moves to remove Duterte from office.
Previously, former senator Leila de Lima said that the House leadership鈥檚 decision to delay the impeachment proceedings might send wrong signals. De Lima is the spokesperson for the first batch of complainants.
READ: De Lima: House delaying impeachment vs VP Sara sends wrong signals
Last Friday, a rally was conducted slamming the House for its inaction on the complaints, despite the raps being verified already.
Castro and her colleagues at the Makabayan bloc said that it seemed that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was a stumbling block to the impeachment, noting that his allies at the House seemed to heed his view that removing Duterte would be just a waste of time.
READ: Edsa rallies hit inaction on VP Sara Duterte impeachment raps
READ: Marcos a 鈥榮tumbling block鈥� to VP Duterte鈥檚 impeachment 鈥� solons