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Vice President Sara Duterte claims that the allegations in opposition to her have been handled by the Home as ‘established reality even earlier than trial begins,’ however a lawmaker insists her proper to due course of was not violated
MANILA, Philippines – As an alternative of issuing point-by-point rebuttals to the alleged offenses cited within the impeachment complaints in opposition to her, Vice President Sara Duterte questioned what she described as “double requirements” by the Home of Representatives in how her case was dealt with in contrast with that of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Duterte filed her verified reply to the 2 impeachment complaints in opposition to her on Monday, March 16, the final day she may submit her response.
She mentioned that the Home justice committee “went past the 4 corners of the criticism and relied on extraneous issues which might be irrelevant” when it dismissed the complaints in opposition to Marcos, though there have been “severe allegations revolving round misuse and corruption of billions of public funds” hurled on the President.
Marcos survived his impeachment case after solely a three-day deliberation by the Home justice committee, which junked the complaints in opposition to him for supposed insufficiency in substance. Complainants tried to oust him from workplace over his alleged involvement within the public works kickback scheme.
Duterte mentioned that in her case, the committee handled the allegations in opposition to her as “established reality even earlier than trial begins.”
She insisted that the discover of disallowance slapped by the Fee on Audit in opposition to her workplace over her P73 million in confidential bills continues to be topic to enchantment, and that the allegations made by her former worker Ramil Madriaga in his sworn affidavit have been “unsubstantiated” and “can’t be accorded evidentiary weight.”
One of many key offenses cited within the impeachment complaints in opposition to Duterte is her alleged misuse of public funds. Madriaga is seen as a possible key witness, after claiming that he had coordinated with Duterte’s safety officers to move wads of money to quite a few people.
No final info?
Duterte additionally insisted that the complaints supplied solely “naked conclusions of truth and legislation,” as an alternative of “final info.”
The Home guidelines handbook says {that a} criticism is deemed adequate in substance if “there’s a recital of info constituting the offense charged.”
Duterte argued that neither of the 2 complaints proved that she amassed ill-gotten wealth, bribed authorities officers, or contracted somebody to kill the President.
“Except for self-serving assertions and sweeping authorized conclusions, the impeachment complaints include nothing anchored in any concrete, established info or supported by legislation. They’re plainly inadequate to maintain the accusations they purport to advance in opposition to the Vice President,” her response learn.
Similar to final 12 months
Duterte’s reply to the impeachment complaints within the Home justice committee mirrors how she responded to the impeachment courtroom throughout her first impeachment battle in 2025 — by difficult the way in which the Home performed its proceedings as an alternative of immediately answering the allegations.
Home justice committee member Terry Ridon pointed this out in his assertion Monday night time, whereas insisting that Duterte’s proper to due course of was not violated.
“A plain studying of the complaints and supporting documentation clearly establishes final info referring to the misuse of confidential funds; the issuance of dying threats in opposition to the President, the First Girl, and the previous speaker of the Home; and unexplained wealth and violations of the Assertion of Belongings, Liabilities, and Internet Value necessities,” Ridon mentioned.
“These allegations go to the very coronary heart of public accountability and constitutional accountability,” he added.
In 2025, Duterte mentioned the accusations in opposition to her have been unsubstantiated, that the proceedings can’t carry over from the nineteenth to the twentieth Congress, and that her impeachment violated the Structure. The Supreme Court docket later sided together with her and declared her impeachment unconstitutional.
What occurs subsequent
Based mostly on Home guidelines, the complainants have three days from receipt of Duterte’s reply to file their reply, after which Duterte could file a rejoinder.
After this back-and-forth, the justice committee will decide whether or not the complaints allege adequate grounds for impeachment.
In the event that they go that check, the panel will maintain public hearings to listen to the proof and the witnesses. Ridon beforehand mentioned this will happen on April 18. – Rappler.com
