Metro Manila, Philippines – The complaints to oust Vice President Sara Duterte from office survived the substance requirement at the House justice committee, a crucial step to advance the proceedings.
At the committee deliberations on Wednesday, March 4, 54 members voted in favor of the sufficiency in substance of the third and fourth ouster complaints.
Quezon City Rep. Bong Suntay cast the negative vote. No one abstained.
The third complaint was filed by a group of clergy and lawyers and endorsed by Mamamayang Liberal Rep. Leila De Lima.
A private lawyer filed the fourth complaint endorsed by Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega and Manila Rep. Benny Abante.
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Both complaints stemmed from Duterte’s alleged fund misuse, threats to the presidential family, and supposed unexplained wealth, among others.
The ouster bids bear almost the same grounds for impeachment, including culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, bribery, and high crimes.
Duterte will be issued a notice as a respondent to the complaints and may file her response within a non-extendible 10 calendar days.
“When all this evidence and documents are gathered, completely gathered, and all these responsive pleadings are received, then that is the time for us to determine whether there is sufficient grounds that support the impeachment complaint. And if the decision of the Justice Committee is in the affirmative, that’s the only time that we will be proceeding to the hearing proper,” justice committee chairperson Jinky Luistro said.
Should Duterte decline to file a response, Luistro said this will be considered as a denial of the allegations against her.
She added the proper hearing may begin in April after the Holy Week break, should the complaints be declared sufficient on grounds.
In a chance interview, complaint endorsers welcomed the overwhelming committee vote.
Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega and Mamamayang Liberal Rep. Leila de Lima – who endorsed the fourth and third ouster bids, respectively – said they weren’t surprised at the decision.
“19th Congress pa po, na-tackle at napag-usapan na yung mga issues na ‘to sa articles of impeachment,” said Ortega.
[Translation:These issues were already tackled and discussed in the articles of impeachment in the 19th Congress.]
“Alam naman po namin [we all know] it passed the test of both form and substance,” De Lima said.
Subpoena records, personalities
Once the complaints reach proper hearing, justice committee members said records and personalities tagged in the allegations may be summoned.
Luistro said the committee will act on any possible motion that may be filed by complainants that would warrant the issuance of bank records of Duterte, which was extensively discussed during the deliberations.
The vice president’s supposed unexplained wealth was one of the allegations in the impeachment suits.
“One of the exceptions to the bank secrecy law is impeachment proceedings so this is an exception to the bank secrecy law which means we can look into the records of the bank account,” Luistro said.
Bicol Saro Rep. Terry Ridon, meanwhile, said the committee may most likely invite Ramil Madriaga, Duterte’s self-confessed bagman.
Madriaga’s affidavit – alleging that he delivered duffle bags of cash to a number of people based on Duterte’s orders – were included in the ouster suits.
Duterte filed a perjury complaint against Madriaga on Wednesday, March 4 – the same day the committee voted on the fate of the impeachment bids.
