Makabayan Still Hopes Impeachment Raps Against Vice President Duterte Will Be Addressed

The Secretary General of the House, Reginald Velasco, receives the second complaint of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte. The complaints, filed by progressive organizations led by Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, were sponsored by ACT Teachers party representative France Castro, Gabriela party representative Arlene Brosas and Kabataan party representative Raoul Manuel. INQUIRER.net / Gabriel P. Lalú

MANILA, Philippines – Makabayan bloc lawmakers have expressed optimism that impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte can still be discussed even though Congress has three days of session left before it adjourns for the Christmas holidays. .

ACT Teachers Party Representative France Castro in an online press conference on Friday was asked about the fate of the first two impeachment complaints as it has been 11 days since the charges were filed.

According to Castro, it appears that lawmakers are awaiting news and instructions from party leaders as they anticipate a third complaint will be filed before the session adjourns.

“The attitude now of our colleagues seems to be to wait and see the third impeachment complaint, because they are waiting for another complaint to be jointly supported by the speaker of the House of Representatives,” Castro told reporters in Filipino.

“This is the attitude that I am seeing, because we know that in the Chamber they go with the decision of their party. That is why we are waiting for the decision of their parties on which of the impeachment accusations will be supported so that they can be quickly transmitted to the Senate,” he added in a mix of Filipino and English.

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The third impeachment complaint is the same complaint that is rumored to come from religious groups. On December 5, the secretary general of the Chamber, Reginald Velasco, confirmed that the impeachment complaints have not been sent to the Office of the Speaker because other sectors are expected to also present their request.

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READ: Impeachment complaints against Vice President Duterte have not yet been sent to Romualdez – Chamber

Despite the time constraints, Castro believes that if party leaders wanted it, addressing impeachment complaints would be quick.

“But we heard, according to conversations, that there is a third complaint of impeachment coming from the majority of religious groups. So we don’t know what religious group it is either, so we’ll wait for it maybe on Monday or Tuesday,” he said.

“Well, if the parties decide to file an impeachment complaint, this will be quick because we can do it even after Christmas, if there was a special session even during the recess, it can be done if they are united about it. . Because they are just waiting for the decision of the Majority. So if it’s time, I think we have it,” he added in Filipino.

Kabataan party representative Raoul Manuel also believes that lawmakers, especially those in the majority, are still assessing the political climate and the feasibility of an impeachment trial against Duterte in the Senate.

“I think that, other than the legislators who supported the first two impeachment complaints, no other legislator has been proactive in coming forward and supporting impeachment in public because they are evaluating its feasibility, if it can be accelerated next week,” he said. he said in Filipino.

“This is in accordance with our Constitution and the rules of our House, that we can file complaints directly if one-third or more than 100 legislators show up to introduce a resolution. So maybe the majority is making sure they have the numbers so that everything goes smoothly, and since this is automatically approved by the House, the impeachment trial would go to the Senate,” he added in a mix of Filipino and English.

READ: First complaint of impeachment against Vice President Sara presented in the House

Rep. Arlene Brosas of the Castro, Manuel and Gabriela party list supported the second impeachment complaint against Duterte. This was presented before the House last December 4 by more than 70 members of different progressive organizations led by Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan).

READ: Vice President Sara Duterte faces second impeachment

Two days before, 16 representatives of civil society groups also went to the Chamber to present the first complaint of impeachment.