Vice President Sara Duterte (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILABULLETIN)

Top leaders of the House of Representatives have reasserted on Friday, Nov. 29 that impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte weren't on the agenda of the lower chamber.

That said, Senior Deputy Speaker Pampanga 3rd district Rep. Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales Jr., Deputy Speaker Quezon 2nd district Rep. David “Jay-Jay” Suarez, and House Majority Leader Zamboanga City 2nd district Rep. Manuel Jose “Mannix” Dalipe underscored the House's duty to act on an impeachment complaint, should one be filed.

"As we have repeatedly pointed out in media interviews, impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte are not on our agenda," the three said in a joint statement on Friday afternoon, Nov. 29.

"While we are committed to upholding transparency and accountability, the primary focus of the House committees concerned is on uncovering the truth behind the use of confidential funds and addressing any alleged irregularities linked to questionable businesses that reportedly emerged during the previous administration," they said.

"However, we also recognize that the House of Representatives has a constitutional duty to act on impeachment complaints filed by ordinary citizens against impeachable officials. This is not just the responsibility of the institution, but also the individual duty of each congressman to uphold the Constitution," noted the trio.

"Should an impeachment complaint be properly filed in accordance with the rules, the House is obligated to deliberate on it fairly and transparently, ensuring that the process adheres to the highest standards of justice," they said.

Former senator Antonio Trillanes IV had earlier told House of Representatives reporters that the filing of an impeachment complaint against Vice President Duterte, the second highest-ranked official of the land, was imminent.

Once filed at the House, a sitting member or congressman must endorse the complaint in order to jump-start the impeachment process. 

For weeks now, several House members have said that there's a ground for Duterte’s impeachment. However, it is not for them to file the actual complaint. 

"Our institution is duty-bound to serve as a check and balance while safeguarding public trust. The Filipino people deserve answers regarding these serious matters, and we aim to fulfill this responsibility without political distractions or divisiveness," said Gonzales, Suarez, and Dalipe. 

"Let us work together to ensure that governance remains focused on what truly matters—delivering results and improving the lives of our people—while fulfilling all constitutional mandates with integrity and impartiality," they added. --with reports from Dexter Barro II.