Impeached Sara still eyes Palace

Vice President Sara Duterte reaffirmed on Friday that she is still seriously considering a presidential run to succeed her former ally, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., despite her historic impeachment by the House of Representatives earlier this week.

“We are seriously considering that, but it’s difficult to decide without [the] numbers, so we have to know the surveys and numbers, but that’s still for next year,” Duterte told a press conference for the first time since she was impeached on Wednesday.

This is not the first time Duterte has hinted at running for president. After her bitter falling out with Marcos, the VP has openly admitted her intentions to run in the 2028 national polls and consistently leads surveys as his preferred successor.

Duterte, however, did not disclose whether she is considering resigning from her post, an action seen by her supporters as a last resort to save her from a possible conviction that could hamper her presidential ambitions.

She emerged as the first Vice President ever to be impeached by Congress for alleged betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution, bribery, graft and corruption, and other high crimes.

At least 215 House members, or more than double the required one-third votes (102 signatories), supported her ouster.

Among the grounds cited for her impeachment was her purported plot to have Marcos, First Lady Liza Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez killed, which she denied anew.

“I didn’t make an assassination threat to the president. They are the only ones saying that,” Duterte asserted.

The daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte said she had yet to read the charges against her, but that her “legal team is preparing the defense and (deciding) what we will do moving forward.”

She refused to confirm whether her father would still be part of her legal team.

The Articles of Impeachment submitted by the House to the Senate on Wednesday marked the fourth complaint lodged against the VP in two months.

More signing

In a phone interview on Friday, House Secretary General Reginald Velasco told DAILY TRIBUNE that 25 additional lawmakers intend to take an oath before him on Monday to officially list themselves as complainants in the Articles of Impeachment.

This would potentially bring the total number of petitioners to 240, or more than 80 percent of the 306-member House of Representatives.

Velasco said the 25 lawmakers were unable to sign the petition on Wednesday as they were not physically present during the oath-taking and verification due to commitments abroad or in their respective districts.

“The legal department of the House will study if they could take their oath via Zoom or virtually, which we allowed during the pandemic,” Velasco stated. “They still have until Monday to take their oath. Nonetheless, they have sent me their verification forms to be part of the complainants.”

The increase in the number of petitioners, however, would only be formalized if the Senate, which will sit as the trial court, acknowledges the late signatories, taking into account that the Articles of Impeachment were already transmitted to the chamber.

“It’s up to the Senate if they would allow or acknowledge these 25 even after 5 February. We will coordinate with them, so we’ll see,” he added.

The 25 additional petitioners include Deputy Speaker Antonio “Tonypet” Albano (Isabela), resigned House appropriations panel chair Elizaldy Co (Ako Bicol Partylist), ACT-CIS Rep. Edvic Yap, Kabayan Rep. Ron Salo, Ako Ilocano Ako Rep. Richelle Singson, Pangasinan Rep. Arthur Celeste, Cavite Rep. Adrian Jay Advincula, Tarlac Reps. Noel Rivera and Christian Tell Yap, Oriental Mindoro Rep. Alfonso Umali Jr., Ako Bisaya Rep. Sonny Lagon, GP Rep. Jose Gay Padiernos, Sagip Rep. Caroline Tanchay, and Abono Rep. Robert Raymund Estrella.

Other signatories are Lakas-CMD members, namely Biñan Rep. Marlyn Alonte, Cagayan Rep. Ramon Nolasco Jr., Lanao del Norte Rep. Mohamad Khalid Dimaporo, Leyte Rep. Carl Nicolas Cari, and Masbate Reps. Richard Kho, Olga Kho, and Wilton Kho, Negros Occidental Rep. Emilio Bernardino Yulo, Quirino Rep. Midy Cua, Sultan Kudarat Rep. Princess Rihan M. Sakaluran, and Pangasinan Rep. Ramon Guico Jr.

Fund misuse

Aside from the alleged assassination plot, House lawmakers cited Duterte’s alleged misappropriation of millions of pesos in confidential funds and purported bribery of her subordinates in the Department of Education during her stint as its secretary.

Duterte, however, denied the allegations, calling the House investigation into her use of secret funds a “well-funded” and “coordinated political attack” aimed at tainting her reputation ahead of the election to prevent future political contests.

Romualdez, whom Duterte accused of orchestrating the House probe, is believed to be the VP’s strong opponent in the 2028 elections, although the House chief has repeatedly denied any intention to run.

No Malacañang order

House Majority Leader Manuel Jose “Mannix” Dalipe emphasized the lower chamber “[did] not take orders from Malacañang” regarding the impeachment.

“The notion that nothing moves in Congress without the President’s approval is pure fiction… The House is an independent branch of government,” Dalipe argued.

Marcos himself has denied having a hand in the impeachment, a matter he has vehemently opposed in recent months.

The Senate is expected to try Duterte when Congress reconvenes after the May 12 elections.

The Senate will need a two-thirds vote, or at least 16 of the 24 sitting senators, to convict and remove Duterte from office. If convicted, Duterte will be perpetually disqualified from holding any public office in the future.

However, a conviction would not extend beyond removal from office and disqualification. Any subsequent prosecution or punishment, including imprisonment, would be determined by the judicial courts.

If Duterte survives impeachment, the House, which has the sole power to initiate it, would have to wait at least one year to file another petition, as mandated by the Constitution.

Quick trial

Iloilo Rep. Lorenz Defensor, one of the House prosecutors, told reporters on Thursday that the Senate should start “as soon as possible” the impeachment proceedings pursuant to the mandate of the Constitution.

“Since the Constitution provides that trial shall ‘proceed forthwith,’ if we interpret ‘forthwith (immediately, right away),’ that should be as soon as possible. But since the Senate is an independent body and we respect their independence, (Congress) being a bicameral legislature, we will leave that to the interpretation of the Senate,” he said.

Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero earlier this week announced that they will hold no impeachment trial during the three-month break to pave the way for the campaign season.

“I will state on the record: as a matter of policy, we will not be pressured to rush this... We will do our sworn duties under the Constitution,” he said.