Vice President Sara Duterte.
SCREENGRAB FROM HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES VIDEO
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� It appears that Vice President Sara Duterte is scared of an impeachment trial because allegations against her are true and can be substantiated, different House of Representatives leaders said on Wednesday.
In separate statements, Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales, Deputy Speaker David Suarez, and Assistant Majority Leader Jude Acidre questioned the need for a petition to stop the impeachment proceedings if Duterte鈥檚 camp is confident that they can disprove allegations and issues hurled against her.
Duterte, represented by close allies including her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, as her legal team, filed on Tuesday a petition before the Supreme Court (SC) asking that the impeachment trial at the Senate be stopped.
鈥淭he Constitution is clear 鈥� impeachment is the sole prerogative of Congress.听 Natatakot na sila kaya gusto nang pigilan ang impeachment process. Mukhang totoo ang allegations on corruption lalo鈥檛 masisilip ang bank records,鈥� Gonzales said.
(The Constitution is clear 鈥� impeachment is the sole prerogative of Congress.听 They are afraid that鈥檚 why they want to stop the impeachment process. It seems that the allegations of corruption are true, especially if we get to see the bank records.)
鈥淰P Duterte鈥檚 petition is nothing more than a desperate attempt to evade accountability,鈥� he added.
Suarez said the latest 鈥渓egal theatrics鈥� show that the Duterte camp is panicking already.
鈥淭he House will not be deterred by legal theatrics. We will continue to uphold our constitutional mandate and ensure that the impeachment process proceeds fairly and transparently,鈥� Suarez said.
鈥�(Duterte鈥檚 legal move) reeks of panic and a blatant effort to undermine the impeachment process even before it formally begins,鈥� he added.听 鈥淚f she truly believes she is innocent, she should face the charges head-on instead of running to the courts for protection. This attempt to short-circuit the process only raises more questions about what she is trying to hide.鈥�
Acidre shared the sentiments from the House leaders, saying that it seems Duterte is rattled 鈥� as the Vice President initially said that the impeachment proceedings would be a good avenue for her to disprove allegations.
鈥淭he Vice President is clearly rattled. Her desperation is showing, and no amount of political maneuvering can hide it.听 Just months ago, she declared she welcomed the impeachment complaint. Now, she鈥檚 pulling every trick in the book to stop it from moving forward. If she truly had nothing to hide, why the sudden fear? Her hypocrisy is staggering,鈥� he said.
鈥淎nd she has every reason to be scared. The House Prosecution Panel is prepared to lay out damning evidence against her, and the Filipino people are watching. A recent survey shows that 73 percent believe she must face a Senate trial for her alleged role in a plot against President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez,鈥� he added.
Earlier, lawmakers from the Makabayan bloc also pointed out that Duterte鈥檚 petition before SC runs contrary to her initial statements that the proceedings are a chance for her to clear things.
In a separate statement on Wednesday, Gabriela party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas noted that Duterte seems to be backtracking and allegedly looks to evade accountability again.
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.)
READ: Makabayan solons slam Sara Duterte鈥檚 bid to stop impeachment听
Duterte 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听
Vice President Duterte was impeached last February 5 after 215 House of Representatives members filed and verified a fourth complaint.听 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听
As early as December 2024 though, House lawmakers have already expressed doubts about Duterte鈥檚 assurance that she will address issues once the impeachment proceedings start 鈥� with Zambales 1st District Rep. Jefferson Khonghun saying that this might just be another 鈥渓ip service.鈥�
According to Khonghun, 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 the First Couple and Romualdez, but she did not make the most out of these.
READ: Solons fear VP Duterte鈥檚 vow to face impeach raps is just lip service听
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.