Rights group to HOR: Transmit impeach articles vs Sara Duterte to the Senate now

KARAPATAN joins other human rights defenders, people’s organizations and concerned citizens in demanding that the House of Representatives proceed with the impeachment process against Vice President Sara Duterte by immediately approving the resolution on the Articles of Impeachment and transmitting these to the Senate, as the HOR goes on recess tomorrow before the start of the official election campaign period for national posts.

“The HOR has dragged its feet long enough in exacting accountability from Sara Duterte,” said Karapatan secretary general Cristina Palabay.

“The testimonies at the hearings of House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability have provided ample proof that Sara Duterte is guilty, among others, of misusing PhP612.5 million in Confidential and Intelligence Funds (CIF) of the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education when she was still its secretary,” she added.

Three impeachment complaints have already been filed in the HOR, but not one of them has been acted on.

“Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s statements of discouraging Sara Duterte’s impeachment continue to be being exploited by elements who want her to evade accountability,” said Palabay, “But he cannot keep on looking the other way in the face of massive corruption.”

“If he continues on this track,” said Palabay, “we would be inclined to believe that it is out of fear that it will someday backfire on him as he himself can be cited for several questionable expenditures, foremost of which is the Office of the President’s gargantuan CIF.” Standing at Php4.5 billion, it is 44% of the total amount allotted to CIF in the proposed 2025 budget, making Marcos Jr. the biggest recipient of pork barrel funds, added Palabay.

“We demand that the HOR immediately process the impeachment complaints that have been filed and transmit the articles of impeachment forthwith to the Senate so that Sara Duterte can be put on trial,” stressed Palabay. “We moreover call for her conviction and removal from office and the filing of criminal complaints against her.”

“Ferdinand Marcos Jr. must heed the people’s demand for justice and accountability now,” concluded Palabay.