Party-list Reps. Arlene Brosas and Raoul Manuel FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Lawmakers from the Makabayan bloc have called out Vice President Sara Duterte again for filing a petition seeking to stop the impeachment trial against her, as it runs contrary to initial statements that the proceedings are a welcome development for her.
In a statement on Wednesday, Gabriela party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas noted that Duterte previously said that the impeachment may be a good venue to address issues thrown against her 鈥� only for her to backtrack and allegedly evade accountability.
鈥淲hatever happened to her earlier statement welcoming the impeachment and preparing her defense team?鈥� Brosas asked.
鈥淚t is evident now that she is backtracking on her words. Hindi lang ito tungkol sa kanyang pagtanggi sa accountability, kundi pati sa kanyang mga salita,鈥� she added.
(This is not only about her refusal to allow accountability measures, but also a question on her earlier statements.)
Kabataan party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel meanwhile said the impeachment trial at the Senate would have been the proper venue for Duterte to address her side, but it seems the Vice President does not want to show up again.
鈥淭he proper venue for raising objections and addressing concerns is within the impeachment court, not through premature legal actions,鈥� Manuel said.
鈥淚t is disappointing to see the Vice President attempting to hinder the process instead of embracing it as an opportunity to defend herself, as she claimed she was ready to do. She is deceiving and confusing the few supporters she has left,鈥� she added.
On Tuesday, Duterte through her lawyers 鈥� including her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte 鈥� filed a petition for certiorari and prohibition, seeking a temporary restraining order on the impeachment proceedings due to alleged violation of Constitutional provisions stating that only one impeachment complaint will be initiated against a sitting official per year.
READ: VP Sara Duterte files petition at SC to stop impeachment moves against her聽
Vice President Duterte was impeached last February 5 after 215 House of Representatives members filed and verified a fourth complaint.聽 The articles of impeachment were immediately sent to the Senate, as the 1987 Constitution states that trial shall begin 鈥渇orthwith鈥� if the verified complaint was submitted by one-thirds of all House members.
With 306 lawmakers in the House, the goal was to get at least 102 members to sign the complaint.
READ: House impeaches Sara Duterte, fast-tracking transmittal to Senate聽
This is not the first time however that lawmakers expressed skepticism about Duterte addressing issues in a formal setting.聽 Last December 2024, House lawmakers said they think Vice President Sara Duterte鈥檚 pronouncements 鈥� that she will address issues thrown at her once the impeachment proceedings start 鈥� might just be another 鈥渓ip service鈥� as she failed to make the most of past chances.
Zambales 1st District Rep. Jefferson Khonghun noted that Duterte has had the chance to defend her actions during the House hearings on her offices鈥� alleged misuse of confidential funds, and before the National Bureau of Investigation when it investigated her threats against President Ferdinand Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, and House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.
However, Khonghun said the Vice President skipped all of these.
READ: Solons fear VP Duterte鈥檚 vow to face impeach raps is just lip service聽
For ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro, this is only proof that Duterte has shown a pattern of avoiding accountability.
鈥淭he Vice President鈥檚 move to halt the impeachment trial through the Supreme Court is a clear indication of her refusal to face the charges against her聽 at the appropriate venue,鈥� Castro said.
鈥淭he appropriate venue is the impeachment court, not the Supreme Court. By resorting to legal maneuvers, she is reinforcing a troubling pattern of avoiding accountability,鈥� she added.
Despite the transmittal of the articles of impeachment to the Senate, trial has yet to start as there were questions whether it is proper for the 19th Congress to start the proceedings when the 2025 midterms elections would surely change the composition in the Senate.
For the House, it is also being quizzed if it is correct to appoint prosecutors as the lawmakers would have to get reelected first if trial crosses to the 20th Congress.
Even former Sen. Leila de Lima 鈥� supporter of moves to impeach Duterte and spokesperson for the first set of complainants 鈥� admitted last January 17 that these issues are open questions.
READ: VP Duterte鈥檚 trial next Congress? De Lima says it鈥檚 鈥榦pen question鈥櫬�
On Tuesday, another petition seeking to stop the impeachment trial, due to alleged inaction on the past three complaints, was also filed by Mindanao-based lawyers.
READ: Petition to stop VP impeach trial moot, says House secretary聽
However, House Secretary General Reginald Velasco believes the petition is already moot since the three complaints have been archived, with the fourth complaint being the only one verified by one-thirds of all lawmakers.