Defensor debunks Ungab's tirade, says VP Duterte impeachment not a diversion to 'blank budget' issue
At A Glance
- Iloilo 3rd district Rep. Lorenz Defensor has debunked Davao 3rd district Rep. Isidro Ungab's claim that the House of Representatives' impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte's was intended to divert attention from the "blank budget" controversy.
Iloilo 3rd district Rep. Lorenz Defensor (left) Davao 3rd district Rep. Isidro Ungab (PPAB)
Iloilo 3rd district Rep. Lorenz Defensor has debunked Davao 3rd district Rep. Isidro Ungab's claim that the House of Representatives' impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte's was intended to divert attention from the "blank budget" controversy.
"No. There are already three impeachment complaints filed before the House of Representatives," Defensor told reporters in an interview Wednesday night, Feb. 5.
While he didn't elucidate, reporters were aware that the first three impeachment complaints against Vice President Duterte were all filed in December 2024. The first one, endorsed by Akbayan Party-list Rep. Perci Cendaña was filed only Dec. 2.
The P6.352-trillion General Appropriations Act (GAA) or national budget for 2025 was signed by President Marcos on Dec. 30.
It would be well into January 2025 when Marcos administration critics former president Rodrigo Duterte and Ungab raised the issue on blanks in national budget. They basically claim that the 2025 outlay is filled with illegal appropriations.
On Wednesday, 215 out of 306 House members signed a fourth impeachment complaint against Vice President Duterte, the ex-president's eldest daughter. This was referred to the Senate that same day, and compelled the upper chamber to transition into an impeachment trial court.
"We felt that there should be a stronger, better crafted impeachment complaint and It's our constituental duty to act on it, hindi lang pagtakpan (and not just to divert)," Defensor said, referring to the fourth complaint that ultimately prospered.
The previous three impeachment complaints were archived through plenary action.
Reacting to his colleagues' actions on Wednesday, Ungab said: "The impeachment moves in the lower House is a futile exercise...Congress will be on recess starting tomorrow (Thursday). This is a diversion from the real issue which is the anomalous budget process as shown by the 28 blank items in the bicam report."
Defensor said he has "no problem" with the question of constitutionality on the 2025 GAA.
"Pwedeng tumuloy ang imbestigasyon (The investigation can continue). In fact, cases have been filed with the Supreme Court (SC) questioning the constitutionality of the budget, which includes the allegations of blanks in the bicam report. That's fine, walang problema (no problem). It can go on.
"But this one (impeachment), we want this to continue and we leave it to the Senate, as the senat[or] judges on how they will act on this," the Iloilo lawmaker said.