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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider These 2 solons agree: Constitutional duty of House to act on VP Sara impeachment raps

These 2 solons agree: Constitutional duty of House to act on VP Sara impeachment raps

Published Dec 7, 2024 10:34 am

At A Glance

  • Ranking solons have echoed the House leadership's stance that the lower chamber is constitutionally obligated to act on the two impeachment complaints filed against Vice President Sara Duterte.

20241207_182116.jpgTingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre (left), (Bataan 1st district Rep. Geraldine Roman (Facebook)

Ranking solons have echoed the House leadership's stance that the lower chamber is constitutionally obligated to act on the two impeachment complaints filed against Vice President Sara Duterte.

Supporting the stance of House Secretary-General Reginald Velasco were Assistant Majority Leader, Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre; and Committee on Women and Gender Equality chairperson, Bataan 1st district Rep. Geraldine Roman.

“We have the constitutional duty, and we’re bound by that mandate to act on all impeachment complaints filed with the House,” Acidre said in a recent press conference.

Roman--while personally hesitant about pursuing the impeachment--acknowledged the mandate that Congress must uphold.

“From a purely constitutional point of view, bahagi po ito ng aming mandato sa Kongreso. Kung meron hong nag-file ng impeachment complaint, we have no choice but to process this complaint,” she said.

Velasco, the highest-ranked civilian official in the House, undescored on Monday, Dec. 2 the ministerial duty of the lower chamber in handling the impeachment complaints.

"It is crucial to underscore that addressing an impeachment complaint is not a discretionary act for the House of Representatives but a constitutional obligation...The Constitution prescribes clear steps to ensure fairness and adherence to the rule of law," said Velasco after the first impeachment rap against Vice President Duterte was filed by civil society figureheads led by former senator Leila de Lima.

A second impeachment complaint was filed agaisnt the lady official on Wednesday, Dec. 4, this time by members of progressive groups.

Velasco said that he will transmit the complaints to the Speaker's office next week.

Acidre described the filing of impeachment raps as proof of the public’s demand for accountability.

“Siguro nitong paghahain ng impeachment complaint ng mga civil society groups ay isa lamang pagpapatunay na ang taong-bayan mismo ay naghahanap ng accountability sa kanilang mga halal na pinuno, lalung-lalo na sa kasong ito ng Bise Presidente,” he said.

(I think the filing of impeachment complaints by civil society groups proves that the public itself is looking for accountability from elected officials, especially in the case of the Vice President.)

For her part, Roman assured the public that the impeachment process would be conducted transparently and in line with the rule of law.

“Rest assured na kung ano mang processing (Rest assured that whatever the process is), deliberations, they will be transparent and they will follow to the small letter,” she said.

She added: “Lahat ng dapat (All that is proper), what we have to take in mind, for example, the questions of whether it is correct in form and in substance and siyempre papakinggan natin lahat ng panig (of course we will listen to all sides). Due process will be followed.”

Related Tags

Impeachment Sara Duterte Geraldine Roman jude acidre
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