ILOILO City – Most Ilonggo lawmakers who endorsed the impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio are framing their decision as an act of benevolence, aiming to provide her with a proper venue to defend herself and address the allegations against her. They are silent on their personal appraisal of the charges.
The Vice President consistently refused to answer questions about her office’s use of confidential funds in the testy inquiries conducted by several House committees last year.
The Ilonggo endorsers of the impeachment complaints are Iloilo City Lone District’s Cong. Julienne Baronda, 1st District’s Cong. Janette Garin, 2nd District’s Cong. Michael Gorriceta, 3rd District’s Cong. Lorenz Defensor, 4th District’s Cong. Ferjenel Biron, and 5th District’s Cong. Raul Tupas.
Also backing the impeachment complaint are three Ilonggo party-list representatives: Uswag Ilonggo’s Cong. James “Jojo” Ang, AAMBIS-OWA’s Cong. Lex Colada, and Kabataan’s Cong. Raoul Manuel.
In interviews with Panay News, the lawmakers emphasized that they endorsed the impeachment complaints to ensure that Vice President Duterte-Carpio would have the opportunity to present her case in the proper forum.
Ang stated, “I have always believed that every person is entitled to defend himself in the proper forum. The Vice President will now have the best chance to present her case, when she stands before the Senate for the impeachment trial.”
But Ang expressed his delight in Defensor’s selection as one of the impeachment prosecutors, calling it a source of pride for both Iloilo and the larger Western Visayas region.
“It’s an honor for us that one of our own will represent us in the impeachment court,” Ang said.
He added: “Maayo ang ginpili nila kay si Cong. Nonoy (Defensor) kalmado kag angayan man sia, kag manami man.”
For her part, Baronda said, “This constitutional process is an opportunity for her (Vice President Duterte-Carpio) to present her side of the issue and respond to the allegations in a formal and impartial forum.”
Baronda added: “By engaging in this legal proceeding, she can defend herself against the accusations, helping to resolve the controversy that has deeply divided the nation and restore trust in our democratic institutions.”
Gorriceta, who signed the complaint on Wednesday, reiterated that “the Senate is the proper venue for the Vice President to answer the complaints filed against her and to let the Filipino people hear her response, especially regarding her statement against the President concerning national security and the allegations of misuse of her intelligence funds.”
Tupas, on the other hand, underscored that the House of Representatives has a duty to address such complaints based on the evidence.
“As members of House of Representatives, we are duty bound to act on the impeachment complaints…The House of Representatives as an institution has decided to act on complaints based on substantial findings and evidences uncovered by Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability as well as the joint hearings conducted by the QuadCom,” Tupas said in a statement.
The trial in the Senate, he said, will provide the Vice President the proper venue to defend herself and dispute the allegations against her, and that “due process will be observed and the rule of law upheld.”
“On the part of the House, the prosecution panel can prove if there are solid bases on the allegations. The Vice President, on the other hand, can present evidence to refute the allegations. Mabal-an ta ang kamatuoran paagi sa impeachment trial sa Senado,” stressed Tupas.
While these lawmakers were mum on their appraisal of the impeachment complaints, Manuel and Defensor were more vocal in their belief that these have basis.
“Now that the House has done its part, we hope the Senate will take swift action as well,” said Manuel.
Manuel explained his support for the impeachment, citing the inclusion of allegations related to the misuse of confidential funds from the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education in the complaint.
“This involves mismanagement of public funds, and that’s why we felt compelled to act,” Manuel said.
Article II of the complaint specifically addresses accusations that Vice President Duterte-Carpio betrayed public trust through the misuse and mismanagement of confidential funds.
Defensor, meanwhile, cited serious constitutional violations.
“There is clear evidence of violation of our Constitution through betrayal of public trust and other high crimes, especially contracting assassins to kill the President,” said Defensor.
He also said a consultation was held in the House of Representatives to ensure that all lawmakers understood the impeachment case against the Vice President.
Meanwhile, Garin confirmed on her Facebook page that she had endorsed the impeachment complaint, too.
Her confirmation followed accusations from Davao City 1st District’s Cong. Paolo Duterte, who claimed that Garin was behind the impeachment move against Vice President Duterte.
Duterte condemned the impeachment efforts, calling them politically motivated and baseless.
He accused Garin and other lawmakers of rushing the impeachment proceedings without proper merit. He labeled the move as a “sinister” political attack aimed at tarnishing the Vice President’s leadership.
“I am appalled and enraged by the desperate and politically motivated efforts to railroad the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte,” said Cong. Duterte. “This is a clear act of political persecution, and I believe Representative Garin is at the center of this baseless attack.”
In response, Garin denied that she was the mastermind behind the impeachment and called Duterte’s statement “very malicious.”
“Whoever fed him the info should come out and face me. Who am I to maneuver my colleagues? We were invited to a party consultation where officers explained the Articles of Impeachment. I was present, though late,” she said./PN
