MANILA – The Senate on Monday officially convened as an impeachment court to begin proceedings in the case against Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio.
Twenty-three senators attended the session and formally took their roles as senator-judges by wearing maroon robes, following the transmittal of the Articles of Impeachment from the House of Representatives on May 13.
Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, who left the Senate premises on Thursday last week, May 14, amid the arrest warrant issued against him by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity, was absent during the convening.
Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano announced that the impeachment court would issue a writ of summons directing Duterte-Carpio to answer the charges filed against her.
Under the rules of the impeachment court, the Vice President will have 10 days from receipt of the summons to submit her response and appear before the tribunal.
The impeachment complaint filed against Duterte-Carpio includes accusations of culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, betrayal of public trust, and other high crimes.
Among the allegations raised were the supposed misuse and questionable liquidation of confidential funds amounting to P500 million under the Office of the Vice President and P112.5 million released to the Department of Education when Duterte-Carpio was still serving as education secretary.
The complaint also accused the Vice President of possessing wealth allegedly beyond her declared lawful income, failing to fully disclose assets and liabilities in her Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth, and maintaining business interests while in office.
Another allegation claimed that monetary gifts were given to Department of Education officials to influence procurement transactions.
Duterte-Carpio was likewise accused of threatening President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, with allegations that she incited sedition and made threats involving assassination.
The Vice President has repeatedly denied all accusations against her./PN
