September 1, 2024 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — Despite rumors that an impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte is brewing in the House of Representatives, such a case has not been filed in the chamber.
This was confirmed through a text message on Friday night by House Secretary General Reginald Velasco, who said no impeachment case has been lodged against the Vice President in the House.
Based on Section 2 of the Rules of the House of Representatives, an impeachment shall be “initiated by the filing and subsequent referral to the committee on justice.”
This verified complaint may be filed by any member of the House and any citizen upon a resolution of endorsement by any House member.
“A verified complaint … shall be filed with the office of the Secretary General and immediately referred to the Speaker,” Section 3 of the Rules stated.
The Speaker shall then have it included in the order of business within 10 session days from receipt and it shall then be referred to the committee on justice within three session days thereafter.
Rumors about Duterte’s impeachment stem from her alleged misuse of the P125-million confidential funds in 2022, which was not included in the year’s national budget.
She claimed that talks on impeachment proceedings in the lower chamber had been going on for several months.
On Aug. 27, Duterte faced the House committee on appropriations which was hearing her proposed budget for the Office of the Vice President (OVP) in 2025 amounting to P2.037 billion.
“Surprisingly, despite the absence of proof as to any wrongdoing, she has already revealed the grounds for impeachment when she was also quoted saying: ‘Especially on the misuse of public funds and technical malversation and violating the 1987 Constitution,’ Duterte maintained.
The Vice President did not name the House member, whom she referred to as “she.”
But on Friday, Alliance of Concerned Teachers Rep. France Castro issued a statement that Duterte committed an impeachable offense for misusing the confidential fund given to her office in Dec. 2022.
The lawmaker tried to interrogate Duterte at the hearing on how the confidential funds were utilized in merely 11 days but the Vice President blocked off questions not related to her proposed 2025 budget allocation.
“Her misuse of the confidential funds is an impeachable offense … In misusing the confidential funds when funds for public services are lacking, she remained silent in explaining her use of the said funds,” Castro underscored.
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