Religious groups, priests, and lawyers filed Thursday a third impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte for betrayal of public trust, graft and corruption, among others, over alleged misuse of at least P612 million worth of confidential funds.
Lawyer Amando Virgil Ligutan, counsel for the complainants, said their impeachment complaint is based on the findings of the House good government and public accountability committee on the confidential fund use of the Office of the Vice President and Department of Education under Duterte.
“The complainants are arguing that it is no longer just a constitutional, legal obligation of the members of Congress to impeach/remove the Vice President. That obligation becomes a moral one,” Ligutan told reporters.
The complaint stated that Duterte’s continuous failure to submit documentary evidence of payment of rewards or proof that her information gathering was successful showed inexcusable negligence on her part to ensure that the Filipino people’s money was properly spent.
“When asked to substantiate her claim or certifications, she constantly failed to satisfy COA (Commission on Audit) and the public that she conducted legitimate activities using the confidential funds. Worse, she deliberately concealed the fact that no information gathering or surveillance activities actually took place,” it added.
The complainants also accused the Vice President of willful public fund misuse.
“Her deliberate intent was crystal clear in her use of fictitious individuals (Mary Grace Piattos, Kokoy Villamin, Alice Cresencio, and Milky Secuya to name a few) to sign her acknowledgment receipts. She showed gross faithlessness against public trust. She cannot be Vice President a minute longer,” they said..
Ligutan said the complaint was endorsed by Camarines Sur Rep. Gabriel Bordado and House Deputy Minority Leader and AAMBIS-OWA party-list Rep. Lex Anthony Colada.
A House member’s endorsement is required for an impeachment complaint to be considered as verified.
The two impeachment complaints previously filed against the Duterte were also anchored on alleged misuse of confidential funds. These were filed by various sectors and endorsed by Akbayan party-list Perci Cendaña, House Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro, House Assistant Minority Leader and Gabriela party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas and Kabataan party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel.
GMA News Online sought comment from the Vice President and will publish them as soon as it becomes available.
Duterte earlier welcomed the impeachment complaints filed against her saying it is better as she would be the only one being attacked.
“So, okay din ‘yung impeachment case dahil ako lang ang tinitira doon, ako lang iniimbestigahan noon. Ako lang ang inaatake ng impeachment case. Hindi na kasali ang nga kasamahan ko sa OVP and mga dati kong kasama sa DepEd. Masagot na ng final kung ano ‘yung mga inaakusa nila sa akin,” she said.
(So, it’s okay they filed an impeachment case since I’ll only be the one who’s being attacked. I’ll only be the one who’s being investigated. I’ll only be the one who is being attacked in the impeachment case. My staff in the Office of the Vice President and Department of Education will no longer be involved. I can finally answer what they are accusing me of.) —AOL, GMA Integrated News
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