Says President’s position clear; Bayan to file 2nd complaint today

Malacañang on Tuesday distanced itself from efforts to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte even as the militant group Bayan is set to file a second impeachment complaint against her today (Wednesday).

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said the filing of the first impeachment rap on Monday was “clearly the complainants’ independent initiative” and that the endorsement of the complaint was also “the prerogative of any member of the House of Representatives.”

“The President already made a clear and unambiguous statement that he will not support an effort to impeach because it is distracting. We have many needs to address that are important for the country,” Bersamin said.

“The President has been very clear. Any suggestion that it is political, that it was instigated by our side – no. That is never true,” the Palace official added.

As this developed, the Makabayan bloc at the House said it will endorse the second impeachment complaint to be filed today against Duterte, with Bayan president Renato Reyes leading the complainants.

Reyes will be joined by Makabayan representatives – Deputy Minority Leaders France Castro of ACT Teachers, Arlene Brosas of Gabriela and Raoul Manuel of Kabataan – “to demand accountability and express public outrage over the multi-million-peso confidential fund scandal.”

Makabayan said the complaint shall be on the grounds of alleged anomalies in the use of funds of the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education during Duterte’s term as DepEd secretary.

The House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability has been conducting hearings on allegations that Duterte misused P612.5 million in confidential funds allocated to the OVP and DepEd.

On Monday, a coalition of activists lodged the first impeachment complaint against Duterte, accusing her of corruption and misconduct.

The complaint added to Duterte’s legal woes as she faces a probe into her alleged death threat against President Ferdinand Marcos, First Lady Liza Marcos and Speaker Martin Romualdez, as well as another inquiry into her use of government funds.

The first impeachment complaint stood on grounds of “culpable violation of the constitution, graft and corruption, bribery, betrayal of public trust and other high crimes.”

For his part, Senate President Francis Escudero on Tuesday reminded his colleagues at the Upper Chamber of their duty to remain impartial as the impeachment process begins at the House.

Escudero said any comments or actions at this point that could be perceived as biased would compromise the integrity of the impeachment trial, should the Senate be called upon to act as an impeachment court.

“While impeachment is often described as a political exercise, it is crucial that members of the Senate approach it with the impartiality and objectivity demanded of us,” he said.

He also highlighted the Senate’s commitment to continue addressing urgent national concerns and enacting laws for the welfare of Filipinos.

“Our people have needs. Whether there is an impeachment or not, those needs cannot be neglected,” he said.