Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre (Dexter Barro II/MANILA BULLETIN)

Deputy Majority Leader and Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre says the House of Representatives can only wait for the “perfect date” when it comes to the possible filing of an impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte.

“I think we leave it to the right time. Parang perfect date ‘yan eh, hindi mo rin alam kung kailan hanggang nangyari na,” Acidre said in a chance interview on Monday, Nov. 4.

(It's like a perfect date, you won't even know when until it happens.)

Despite his remarks, Acidre stressed that there are still no talks with regards to the filing of an impeachment case against the country’s second top official.

“It’s only the Vice President had been saying all about these things,” he noted.

Vice President Duterte is currently under scrutiny by the House, particularly the Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, over allegations of misuse of public funds.

Committee chairperson, Manila 3rd district Rep. Joel Chua earlier said that Duterte may face impeachment over grounds of graft and corruption and betrayal of public trust.

In particular, Chua cited the alleged unaccounted P15 million in confidential funds of the Department of Education (DepEd) under Duterte’s tenure as secretary. The money was allegedly spent on youth leadership summits.

He likewise flagged the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) supposed overpriced rental payments for safe houses. 

READ MORE:
Graft, betrayal of public trust could be grounds for VP Sara's impeachment--Manila solon

'Technically yes'

When asked if he agrees with Chua’s assessment, Acidre responded: “By all technicalities, yes.”

“Is the amount within the bounds of what can be considered plunder? Probably yes,” the lawmaker said.

“Is it betrayal of public trust? I think pinaka-concrete na panuntunan ng public trust ay ang pag-handle ng public fund ‘di ba? (I think the most concrete principle of public trust is the handling of public funds, right?) So, if we were to be technical about it, yes,” he added.

Acidre further claimed that the House’s investigations were not meant to prosecute anyone.

Since these hearings are in aid of legislations, lawmakers must also look at “how can we prevent this from happening again”, he said.

Acidre says that strengthening the laws and systems of the country is what matters, aside from exacting accountability for the officials involved.

“Hindi lang po ito pag-uusig sa isang tao, ito’y pagtatama ng mali,” he stressed.

(It's not just prosecuting someone, it's correcting a wrong.)