VP SARA
IMPEACH PETITIONS
HOUSE Secretary General Reginald Velasco has confirmed that the three impeachment complaints filed against Vice President Sara Duterte have been verified and are ready to be transmitted to the Office of House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
However, Velasco said he is still waiting for the fourth impeachment complaint to be filed by some members of Congress.
The House of Representatives will be resuming its session this week after a month-long Holiday break.
“So far naman, itong tatlo, they constitute as verified complaint based on the evaluation of the legal department… Pwede na i-transmit at anytime,” he said.
According to Velasco, he will give some solons until next week to make a decision on their supposed plan to file the 4th impeachment case or to endorse the existing three.
“Next week will be the time, the right time to transmit it to the Speaker. But again, I will have to talk individually with the House members kung they have made already a decision. I have to respect my commitment to them…. I’ll have to talk with the House members na nag-request sa akin ng time to study the three complaints or consider filing another complaint, a new complaint,” he added.
Velasco said he will discuss the matter with the party leaders at the House of Representatives.
If some congressmen request for additional time beyond next week, Velasco said he would discuss it first with House leaders.
“Hindi naman timeless ‘yun. Hopefully, by next week, we will be able to resolve this with the members.”
Meanwhile, the officer denied sitting on the impeachment complaints, reiterating that his decision to wait for other complaints was prompted by a request from around a dozen lawmakers.
He noted that the House rules do not specify a time frame within which his office should transmit a verified impeachment complaint to the Speaker’s office.
“Alam mo the House of Representatives cannot act on it until magkaroon ng session which is January 13. So wala rin gagawin ang House kung on break pa sila. Wala namang mapapala kung i-transmit ko kaagad kung wala pa rin session. Walang metro eh. Kasi nakalagay sa rules, 10 session days ang Speaker,” Velasco said.
“I just want to avoid that issue na may mga complaints pang ifa-file and then hindi ko na mata-transmit dahil na-transmit ko na ‘yung tatlo. So give me until next week to evaluate. Kung wala na ‘yung consolidated, itong three complaints na lang ang available. So ‘yan ‘yung ita-transmit ko kay Speaker,” he added.
“I don’t want to be denounced sa floor, (na) we have a SecGen na hindi kami sinusunod, nakiusap kami, ganyan. So I don’t want to have any issue with any House member for that matter. One way or another, I have to transmit the complaints to the Office of the Speaker. Parang ano na ‘yun, negligence on my part if I will not act on these complaints… Ang nakiusap kasi sa akin mga House members, I have to give them due respect.”
For Akbayan Party-list Rep. Percival Cendaña, one month since they filed the first impeachment complaint is “more than enough” time for it to move forward from the Office of the House Secretary General.
“Nag-monthsary na ‘yung impeachment complaint na finile natin… Kinakailangan na aksyunan talaga. One month is too long. One month without holding Sara accountable is giving a very bad example to other government officials,,” he said.
“’Pag by next week, hindi pa pumasok ‘yung sumunod na set na complainants, it is incumbent upon the House leadership to take this on immediately.”
Just recently, a Social Weather Stations survey showed that 4 in 10 Filipinos back Vice President Duterte’s impeachment, and the Pulse Asia survey showing that majority of Filipinos support the House Quad Comm probe into the killings during the administration of Former President Rodrigo Duterte.
Cendaña believes “the time is ripe” for Congress to get the impeachment process moving.
“These are compelling reasons para hindi na magpatumpik tumpik pa yung House Leadership at hindi na magpatumpik-tumpik pa yung iba natin mga kasamahan sa Kongreso para finally come out in the open and support the impeachment.,” he said.
“There are already cracks in the Duterte mystique. So, ngayon nakikita natin nagdi-disintegrate na ‘yung political base at ‘yung political perception sa mga Duterte…If we delay, we are giving them additional ammunition to regroup, to reconsolidate, and regain their strength,” he added.
