An impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte was filed in the House of Representatives on December 2, 2024. Sixteen individuals from various civil society organizations, advocacy groups and relatives of the victims of extra judicial killings (EJKs) cited in their 33-page complaint 24 articles, which pointed to the culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, bribery, betrayal of public trust, and other high crimes.
Prominently included among the articles cited was VP Sarah Duterte’s inability to explain the P612.5 million in confidential funds spent in 2023 and 2024 under her Office of the Vice President and Office of the Department of Education when she served as its secretary. Also cited was her alleged involvement in EJKs when she was Davao City mayor.
The impeachment rap got the backing of Akbayan Partylist.
A second impeach rap for betrayal of public trust, for alleged misuse of P612 million in confidential funds, has been filed by Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), and endorsed by the Makabayan lawmakers.
Brazen Bullying
The move for the ouster of VP Sara Duterte has finally been taken after weeks of investigation by the House Quad Committee on Good Governance.
Given the brazen bullying and spoiled-brat antics, and unbecoming behavior of the country’s vice president, Filipinos of goodwill most likely wondered why the delay especially by the government’s judicial and law enforcement agencies to take appropriate action sooner.
It appears that the justice system under the Marcos-Duterte administration, given its dynastic character that extends to the Senate, House of Representatives, as well as the Executive and Judicial branches, has been deliberately been applying delaying tactics in the dispensation of justice.
It looks like government officials holding positions of public trust, officially mandated to give justice to every Filipino and to really serve the people, have the habit of waiting for the masses to rise up. More often than not, public officials tend to wait for grievances to be aired officially and publicly by concerned individuals and/or civil society organizations.
Genuine Public Service
Isn’t it their public duty and responsibility to act officially decisively and swiftly on their erring fellow government officials, especially when the people’s money is being wasted or blatantly stolen?
More to the point, aren’t elected government officials by the nature of their holding powerful political decision-making bound to strictly observe the fundamental principle of “check-and-balance” among themselves and their respective jurisdictional bodies, to assure the integrity and dignity of genuine public service?
Hope For A Win
The Filipino people are now seriously watching how their representatives in the House of Representatives will take the first step in handling the impeachment complaint.
The people are aware that there are loyalties that can cloud the decision-making of their representatives for good or for bad, or even disastrous for the country and the Filipino people.
Of course, the official engagement of the Senators is another crucial point of attention that may ultimately spell a painful shout of “ARAY’ or a triumphal yell of “GREAT VICTORY!” from the Filipino people.
Is there hope for a WIN?
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