Groups to mobilize on either side of impeachment rift

The proponents of the three impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte will hold a series of mobilizations this month to prompt the House of Representatives to take appropriate action on the petitions that have remained stagnant for over a month.

In a briefing following their closed-door meeting on plans for the impeachment, Bayan chairperson and former Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño told the media that mass actions would be held on the 18th, 25th, 27th, and 31st of this month, once they gather enough signatures for their joint statement from various individuals, sectors, and organizations.

The signature drive aims to prod the House leadership to initiate the impeachment process by transmitting the petitions to the Office of the House Speaker and the Committee on Justice so that it can eventually reach the Senate, which will sit as the trial court.

Reps must be held accountable

The group asserted that it’s high time for Congress to stand for accountability.

"Next week, we will wrap up the efforts to advance [the impeachment.] We want it to reach the Senate before 7 February so that the Senate can start the trial," said Casiño in Filipino, one of the petitioners of the second impeachment complaint.

Congress is currently on a holiday break and is pressed for time due to another upcoming recess on 7 February for the election campaign for the May 2025 polls.

House Secretary General Reginald Velasco, who is responsible for referring the complaints to the Speaker’s office, confirmed that he has not yet transmitted them, pending review by the House of Representatives legal department on the merits of the case.

Another contributing factor to the delayed submission, he said, was that some congressmen from the majority bloc have appealed for leeway to examine the complaints and possibly endorse one of them or file a fourth impeachment next week.

As of Wednesday, House Deputy Minority Leader France Castro of the ACT Teachers Partylist disclosed that only six congressmen had endorsed the three impeachment complaints, with some only giving pledges.

"As of the moment, we have not gathered the enough number [of votes]. But this is our effort to encourage our colleagues in Congress,” she said, referring to the assembly.

INC to mobilize vs. impeachment

The influential sect Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) is set to hold a nationwide rally on Monday, coinciding with the resumption of Congress, reportedly to oppose moves to impeach Duterte, pursuant to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s call.

Critics have speculated that the House’s stalling of the petitions was due to fear of losing support from the INC — numbering millions of Filipinos who vote as a bloc — in the mid-term elections.

However, Jerome Adonis, secretary general of the Kilusang Mayo Uno, stressed that it is imperative for members of the House to look into the merits of the complaints rather than political affiliations.

Other petitioners have also warned both the House and the Senate that various sectors and organizations outside their circle are keeping a close eye on their actions and responses to the clamor to impeach the Vice President.

“The timing is perfect. Because now, the whole Senate will be under the court of the people. Each one of them will be judged very, bery minutely. So, I think they better be careful,” said Sylvia Pimentel Yuzon, a member of the first impeachment complaint, from the Global Transparency and Transformation Advocates Network.

“We expect that you do your job. Your moral and legal duty. That’s why you are there. You represent the people, our rights, and dignity. We are expecting from you. We are watching you,” another complainant said, alluding to members of the House.

Meanwhile, Casiño, who is eyeing a Senate seat, dismissed claims that the efforts to oust Duterte will be dead in the water after the elections, claiming that the impeachment trial will potentially stretch into the 20th Congress when a new batch of legislators is sworn in.

Complaints center alleged graft and corruption

The embattled Duterte faces three impeachment complaints, all accusing her of culpable violation of the Constitution, bribery, graft and corruption, and betrayal of public trust — all grounds for impeachment except for treason.

The complainants, coming from multi-sectoral groups, heavily relied on findings by the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, which investigated alleged irregularities in Duterte's use of P612.5 million in confidential funds — P500 million for the Office of the Vice President and P112.5 million for the Department of Education during her tenure as its head.

While the Vice President has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, she remains unfazed, viewing the impending trial as an opportunity to “exclusively” address the corruption allegations leveled against her.