3 days Ago By Dwight de Leon
MANILA, Philippines – Numerous Catholic priests led the filing of the third impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte on Thursday, December 19. The complaint was endorsed by Camarines Sur 3rd District Representative Gabriel Bordado and AAMBIS-OWA Representative Lex Colada. Accusing the veep of betraying public trust and culpably violating the Constitution, the complainants argued that ousting her is imperative.
“On behalf of the Filipino people, complainants believe that it is not only the constitutional obligation of the members of the House of Representatives to impeach, and for the Senate to remove from office, Vice President Sara Z. Duterte. That obligation now becomes a moral one,” the document read.
Six priests were listed as complainants, including Reverend Father Antonio Labiao Jr., one of the conveners of the Clergy for Good Governance, and Father Daniel Franklin “Danny” Pilario, a Cebuano theologian who fought against drug war killings. Other signatories included leaders of four nongovernment organizations, a lawyer, and the Union of Peoples’ Lawyers in Mindanao.
Mishandling of funds Like the first two complaints, the latest impeachment effort against Duterte cited her alleged misuse of confidential funds that her agencies had received — P125 million for the Office of the Vice President in 2022, and P112.5 million for the Department of Education (DepEd) in 2023. They asserted that Duterte committed plunder through malversation of public funds, since she is a public and accountable officer who is in custody of the public funds, but failed to account for the confidential expenditures.
The complaint cited numerous revelations during congressional deliberations, from how she let her security personnel handle the confidential funds , to how the receipts she submitted to COA were signed by people with no birth records . Citing revelations during congressional deliberations, they said she conspired with her security officers in misappropriating the funds. “If this Honorable House of Representatives allows the Vice President to get away with what she did, what is stopping other less ethical public officials from misappropriating millions and millions of hard-earned public money by the mere flimsy excuse that disposition be confidential?” the petition asked.
“Impeachment is the necessary, ultimate line of defense against corruption at the highest rungs of officialdom,” it added. “She cannot be Vice President a minute longer.” The complainants are as follows: Father Labiao of the Diocese of Novaliches Reverend Father Joel Saballa of the Diocese of Novaliches Reverend Father Rico Ponce of the Order of Carmelites Reverend Father Dionisio V.
Ramos of the Order of the Carmelites Reverend Father Esmeraldo Reforeal of the Order of the Carmelites Father Pilario of the Congregation of Mission Simon Serrano, founder of Stop Corruption Philippines Wilfredo Villanueva, lead founder of the Stand Up for God Rosary Group Pinky Tam, member of Stand Up for God Rosary Group Union of Peoples’ Lawyers in Mindanao Maria Loreto Lopez, co-founder of the Matina Community Pantry Lawyer Shanelle Aubrey Gianina Gomez The 1987 Constitution gives Speaker Martin Romualdez a maximum of 10 session days to include an impeachment complaint in the order of business in the plenary, and a maximum of three session days to refer it to the justice committee. Congress adjourned for the holidays on Wednesday, December 18, which means that the referrals stipulated in the charter will be conducted when the House resumes session in January. – Rappler.
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