VP Sara impeached for second time

 

VP Sara declared in February her plan to run as president in 2028

Vice President Sara Duterte has become the first Philippine official to be impeached twice.

The House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved Monday, May 11, the justice committee report that found probable cause in three complaints filed against the Vice President.

Of the 316 House members, 257 signed the impeachment complaints on the grounds of alleged misuse of confidential funds, unexplained wealth, bribery, and an assassination plot against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

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This was more than the one-third, or 106 House members, that the Constitution requires for the articles of impeachment to be transmitted to the Senate for trial.

Twenty-five opposed the impeachment, including three members of her family who are incumbent House members. Nine abstained.

The “yes” votes exceeded the 215 cast by House members who approved the impeachment complaint against her last year. However, the Senate under the leadership of Senator Chiz Escudero did not immediately convene to try that indictment and the Supreme Court eventually ruled the impeachment complaint unconstitutional for violating the “one-year bar" rule.

House members vote overwhelmingly to impeach VP Sara (File)

Before the vote, ML Partylist Rep. Leila de Lima  who endorsed the impeachment complaint said, “These are patterns of bad behavior. These are habits of abuse of power… Impeachment is not political persecution. It is not a partisan activity. It is a constitutional accountability mechanism.”

But Cavite Rep.Kiko Barzaga who voted no to impeachment, described VP Sara as the nation’s “hope” for ostensibly fighting corruption, including the massive irregularities in flood control projects.

Basahin ang detalye!

Apart from Barzaga those who voted no were Batangas 1st District Representative Leandro Leviste, SAGIP Party List Representative Paolo Marcoleta and VP Sara’s kin in Congress, brother Paolo Duterte, nephew Omar Vincent Duterte and cousin Harold James Duterte.

The three Dutertes walked out of the plenary hall before the casting of votes, but later indicated to the House Secretary that they were voting no to the indictment.