MANILA — Progressive groups staged on Monday a rally in front of the gates of the House of Representatives calling for the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte, as the lower chamber is scheduled to tackle the her office’s proposed 2025 budget.

Protesters carried posters with “squid” drawings and message “impeach Sara”.

During the August 27 House panel deliberations on the OVP’s proposed 2025 budget, ACT Teachers Party List Representative France Castro accused Duterte of using “squid tactics” whenever asked about her utilization of confidential funds in 2022. The Vice President has denied that there was misuse of her office’s budget.

There is no impeachment complaint yet filed against Duterte before the lower House. 

House Minority Leader Marcelino Libanan said should one be filed, it should be carefully studied.

“Ang impeachment, may mga elements. May requirements bago ka mag-impeach… Kailangan ang reasons bakit mag-i-impeach? Kailangan ang reasons nakasulat. May proseso ‘yan. Ano ang culpabilities, like betrayal of public trust? May mga requirements po ‘yan. Kaya hindi pwedeng kwentuhan lang sa kalsada, pero kailangan aralin nang malalim,” he said.

“Hindi pwedeng ang impeachment pag-usapan sa kalsada. Somebody has to make a complaint, endorsed by a member of Congress, determined whether there is substantive causes… Napakamasalimuot itong proseso,” Libanan added.