By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Following the filing of two impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte, House leaders emphasized their constitutional duty to address the matter.
“We have the constitutional duty, and we’re bound by that mandate to act on all impeachment complaints filed with the House,” stated House Assistant Majority Leader and Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre, who also chairs the House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs.
Bataan 1st District Rep. Geraldine Roman, chair of the House Committee on Women and Gender Equality, expressed personal reservations about pursuing impeachment but acknowledged Congress’s obligation.
“From my personal point of view, I’m not inclined to push for an impeachment process kasi ito rin ang pananawagan sa amin ng Pangulo,” Roman said. “But from a purely constitutional point of view, bahagi po ito ng aming mandato sa Kongreso. Kung meron hong nag-file ng impeachment complaint, we have no choice but to process this complaint.”
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. previously advised congressional allies to drop impeachment plans against Duterte, saying it would not serve Filipinos and could distract Congress from urgent national concerns.
Despite this, civil society groups, religious leaders, and the Makabayan bloc filed separate impeachment complaints accusing Duterte of culpable violations of the Constitution, graft and corruption, bribery, betrayal of public trust, and other high crimes.
Acidre described the complaints as a reflection of the public’s demand for accountability.
“Siguro nitong paghahain ng impeachment complaint ng mga civil society groups ay isa lamang pagpapatunay na ang taong-bayan mismo ay naghahanap ng accountability sa kanilang mga halal na pinuno, lalung-lalo na sa kasong ito ng Bise Presidente,” he noted.
Roman assured the public of transparency in the impeachment process.
“Rest assured na kung ano mang processing, deliberations, they will be transparent and they will follow to the small letter,” she said. “Lahat ng dapat, what we have to take in mind, for example, the questions of whether it is correct in form and in substance, at siyempre papakinggan natin lahat ng panig. Due process will be followed.”
Acidre added that the impeachment filings are consistent with the House’s efforts to uphold accountability.
“Nakita ninyo naman ho sa mga pagdinig ng Kongreso, naging prayoridad naman talaga natin ang paghahanap ng accountability,” he said.
The complaint must be referred to the plenary within 10 session days, after which the justice committee will determine if it meets the requirements of form and substance.
“This will be a careful balancing act on the part of the leadership and the House,” Acidre noted.
Despite potential challenges, Roman emphasized Congress’s commitment to fulfilling its constitutional duties.
“Batas lamang po ang paiiralin — pantay-pantay ang lahat,” she stressed.
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