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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Bato on impeachment complaint filed vs VP Sara: 'Go ahead'

Bato on impeachment complaint filed vs VP Sara: 'Go ahead'

Published Dec 3, 2024 08:13 am

Despite Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero's call to his colleagues to refrain from commenting on the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte, Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa didn't stop to tell those who filed to "go ahead.”

"They can do it, nobody's stopping them, if they want to do it then go ahead. Wala pong problema (There's no problem)," he said in a television interview over ANC on Tuesday, Dec. 3.

Various civil society groups, including victims of extrajudicial killings (EJKs), filed on Monday, Dec. 2 an impeachment complaint against Duterte at the House of Representatives.

With this, Escudero reminded senators that the filing and endorsement of an impeachment complaint in the House of Representatives marks the beginning of a process enshrined in the Constitution to ensure accountability among the country’s highest public officials.

As such, “should the Senate be called upon to act as an impeachment court, any perception of bias or pre-judgment would undermine not only the integrity of the impeachment trial but also the public’s trust in the Senate as an institution,” the Senate leader said.

Yet Dela Rosa commented on the grounds cited which primarily includes the use Office of the Vice President's (OVP) use of its confidential funds.

"To start with alam naman natin na sinisingle-out nila yung OVP for what? Alam natin what's the motive behind. Kung gusto nila, talagang seryoso sila, maimbestigahan yung confidential funds na yan, they should start with the Office of the President (OP) (To begin with, we all know that they are singling out the Office of the Vice President for what reason? We understand the motive behind it. If they are serious about investigating those confidential funds, they should start with the Office of the President)," he said.

Dela Rosa added that all government offices making use of confidential funds should be investigated.

He also stated that should confidential funds as well as intelligence funds be removed, those who stand to benefit are insurgents such as the New People's Army (NPA), communists, and leftist organizations who are enemies of the state.

The House, through the Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, has been investigating the alleged misuse of P612.5-million confidential funds under the OVP and the Department of Education (DepEd).

Related Tags

Impeachment complaint Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero Vice President Sara Duterte Senator Ronald Bato dela Rosa
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