Nelson Morales

Harapan 2025: Castro urges lawmakers to listen to constituents on Sara Duterte impeachment

Article (news)

Victoria Tulad

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/173717784723820250117-harapan-halalan-2025-JC-2.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Congresswoman France Castro answers questionas during the Harapan 2025 interviews at the ABS-CBN Headquarters in Quezon City on January 17, 2025. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News"/>Congresswoman France Castro answers questions during the Harapan 2025 interviews at the ABS-CBN Headquarters in Quezon City on January 17, 2025. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</div>MANILA -- Lawmakers need to listen to their constituents and to take the impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte seriously. This was the appeal of ACT Teachers Party List Representative France Castro when asked if she remained optimistic about the said complaints, considering that there are only less than 10 session days left before Congress breaks to allow members to campaign for the May elections. Castro was interviewed on ABS-CBN’s Harapan 2025 on Friday. So far, three impeachment complaints have been filed in the House of Representatives, but Secretary General Reginald Velasco has not yet referred these to the Office of the Speaker as these are still undergoing verification by his office. Velasco said a fourth impeachment complaint may also be forthcoming. Time is of the essence, however, since Congress adjourns on February 7 and resumes on June 2. Manila 6th District Representative Bienvenido Abante, Jr. has already said that some lawmakers are “quite cold” to the impeachment. Nevertheless, Castro remains determined. “Malakas pa rin ang aking loob na matutuloy ang impeachment complaint laban kay Sara Duterte despite kahit na yung pronouncement at saka yung rally ng isang, isang sekta. Tingin ko naman mas marami yung ating mga mamamayan na nagtutulak talaga ng impeachment,” Castro said. [I am still confident that the impeachment complaint against Sara Duterte will push through, despite the pronouncement and the rally of one sect. I believe that many of our countrymen are pushing for her impeachment.]“Puwede pa eh kung talagang seseryosohin itong impeachment at talagang yung ating mga kasamahan sa House of Representatives ay talagang ipupush ito at dapat makinig sila sa kanilang mga constituents,” she added. [It is still possible if we will the impeachment seriously, and if our colleagues at the House of Representatives listen to their constituents.]According to Castro, so long as the House of Representatives sends the impeachment complaint to the Senate before the 19th congress ends in June, then those who will make up the 20th Congress can still tackle it.  “Dahil tinitimbang pa yata ngayon ng leadership yung bilang sa Senado kung for impeachment or not for impeachment. Siyempre nagsisigurado rin tayo na manalo ang impeachment. Kaya talagang kahit na last day na talaga ng 19th Congress maipasa lang dun, bola na yan ng susunod na set ng Senador,” Castro explained.  [It remains to be seen how many in the Senate are for or against impeachment. For us, we&#x27;re trying to ensure that we have the numbers. Even if we send it on the last day of the 19th Congress, the next set of Senators will have to tackle it.]<div>UNITEAM BREAKUP</div> Many believe the impeachment complaints were filed against Duterte as a result of her falling out with President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. For Castro, the breakup was not surprising as they already saw it coming.  “Wala naman talagang Uniteam, nag-unite lang sila para manalo sa eleksyon. Actually wala naman talagang tunay na plataporma ang Marcos at Duterte para sa mga mamamayan kaya hindi naging matibay yung kanilang Uniteam,” Castro remarked. [There was never really a UniTeam. They only united to win the elections. Actually, Marcos and Duterte had no real platforms for the people, which is why the UniTeam eventually fell apart.]Meanwhile, Castro maintained that Duterte’s father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, must face the International Criminal Court (ICC) which is investigating the Drug War during his administration. According to Castro, “Kailangan niyang humarap sa ICC para panagutan niya yung mga extrajudicial killings nung panahon niya. At yung ating mga biktima ng EJK (extrajudicial killings) ay makakuha na rin ng justice.”[He has to face the ICC to answer for the extrajudicial killings conducted during his administration, and for the EJK victims to get justice.]

Lawmakers need to listen to their constituents and to take the impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte seriously.

Lawmakers need to listen to their constituents and to take the impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte seriously.