Nelson Morales

Impeachment proceedings against Sara Duterte may face time constraints

Vice President Sara Duterte addresses the media at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City on November 26, 2024, regarding her remarks about President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and Speaker Martin Romualdez. Duterte clarified that her comments, made during a virtual press conference, were not intended as threats but as expressions of concern for her safety.  The National Bureau of Investigation has issued and served a subpoena asking the vice president to appear at the NBI office and explain her tirades on Friday. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Vivienne Gulla

ABS-CBN News

The impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte may face time constraints if the complaint is not filed by at least 1/3 of lower House members or 103 congressmen, according to at least two lawmakers. Under the Constitution and the House Rules, if this requirement is satisfied, the verified complaint or resolution of impeachment shall be endorsed by the House plenary straight to the  Senate, without having to go through the House Committee on Justice. Complaints filed or endorsed by less than 1/3 of all lower House members are referred to the committee, which has a maximum of 60 session days to submit its report to the House plenary. “Kung normal route, hearing sa Committee on Justice, I believe na kulang na ang panahon,” House Committee on Justice Vice Chairperson Rep. Gerville Luistro said.<div> <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2024/12/5/2025-polls-end-of-19th-congress-complicate-hypothetical-impeachment-escudero-1915">2025 polls, end of 19th Congress complicate hypothetical impeachment — Escudero</a></div>&quot;When it is filed and endorsed at the onset by one-third of the members. If this is the route that we will be taking, it is possible that we do away with the hearing in the Committee on Justice. So we will shorten the process in the Congress. And given that scenario, pwedeng by January, i-endorse na natin sa Senate. So they still have February, March, and April to hold the impeachment trial. Pero if we will not be taking this route, and we will be taking the regular route na magkakaroon pa ng hearing sa Committee on Justice, the period before election might not be enough to conclude the impeachment trial,” she explained. “Kung walang referral by a one-third vote, parang medyo ipit talaga sa panahon, kung dadaan pa sa Committee on Justice... Not impossible, but challenging, because of the requirements na kailangan pang mag-answer... And if there is a need to ask questions and clarify things, may hearings pa yan na i-conduct si Committee on Justice,” House Committee on Justice Vice Chairperson Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores added. Congressmen from the Makabayan bloc sent their colleagues via group chat on Friday copies of the impeachment complaint they endorsed and a Resolution for Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte, as they seek to get the signature of at least 106 House members, and fast track the process at the lower chamber. House Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers Party List Representative France Castro said no congressman has affixed his signature on the resolution yet, but some have already expressed support. “Ayoko sabihin, baka ma-preempt... Pero may nag-heart... Tingin ko naman marami na siguro sa ating mga kasamahan ang nag-participate actively sa mga hearings, madali na siguro sa kanila magdesisyon… Marami kaming kasamahan na naririnig namin may support sa impeachment,” Castro told the media. “Take courage at pumirma sila. Itaas na natin ito sa Senate (06:51) “106 para hindi ma-technical… Kasi diba, parang kapag sinabi nila na, “O, hindi, kasama pa rin sa roll itong mga namatay or ganito or ganyan”, at least we have a sure number of 106 kapag tinotal, kahit i-total mo,” Gabriela Party List Representative Arlene Brosas added.<div> <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2024/12/5/third-impeachment-complaint-against-sara-duterte-looms-1929">Third impeachment complaint against Sara Duterte looms</a></div>Two lawmakers from the House majority said they have yet to receive a copy of the resolution for impeachment. They also claimed that the House majority has yet to discuss any impeachment initiative against Duterte. But will they support such moves? “Let&#x27;s just wait until I see how it was worded, how the complaint was worded. Pero kung if you ask me were the acts complained of,  na-raise doon sa Good Government and the facts that we gathered doon based on the COA reports sa Good Government, sufficient para maging ground for impeachment, well may chance siya for me, may chance. But ang kulang nalang siguro is there were some questions pa kasi on the acknowledgement receipts that we wanted answered… Pero as of now, since there is no conclusive determination on those acknowledgement receipts, parang kulang pa for me. Para sa akin, kulang pa,” Flores said. Members of the House Committee on Justice have started “brushing up” on the House rules regarding the impeachment process. The House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability investigating the alleged misuse of confidential funds in offices led by VP Duterte is set to present its initial findings on Monday.

The impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte may face time constraints if the complaint is not filed by at least 1/3 of lower House members or 103 congressmen, according to at least two lawmakers .

The impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte may face time constraints if the complaint is not filed by at least 1/3 of lower House members or 103 congressmen, according to at least two lawmakers .