MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte welcomed the impeachment complaints filed against her at the House of Representatives.
One was filed by civil society groups on Dec. 2 and the other by people’s organizations on Dec. 4.
Speaking in Filipino, Duterte said in an interview with TV5 shared by the Office of the Vice President on Tuesday that it would be better if the impeachment cases were to be filed so that she could answer them properly as the laws on impeachment are clear.
The 1987 Constitution gives the House exclusive power to initiate impeachment cases and gives the Senate the power to try them.
Under the Constitution, a verified impeachment complaint may be filed by a lawmaker of the House or a citizen as long as it is endorsed by a House member.
The House “is constitutionally mandated to act on any impeachment complaint filed in accordance with the 1987 Constitution,” Secretary General Reginald Velasco said on Dec. 2.
The impeachment complaint against Duterte stemmed from the controversial use of intelligence funds by the Office of the Vice President (OVP), among others.
A vote of one-third of all House members is needed to proceed to trial.
“The President, the Vice-President, the Members of the Supreme Court, the Members of the Constitutional Commissions, and the Ombudsman may be removed from office, on impeachment for, and conviction of, culpable violation of the Constitution, treason, bribery, graft and corruption, other high crimes, or betrayal of public trust. All other public officers and employees may be removed from office as provided by law, but not by impeachment,” the Constitution reads.
Be the first to comment