Pulong Duterte slams possible impeachment raps vs VP Sara

Davao Representative Paolo “Pulong” Duterte on Sunday slammed the possible filing of another impeachment complaint against his sister, Vice President Sara Duterte.

ACT Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio, meanwhile, said there is a legitimate basis for the Vice President’s impeachment cases.

In a statement Sunday, Rep. Duterte urged his fellow lawmakers to do away with starting another impeachment case against the Vice President.

He alleged that the filing of the impeachment case is scripted, being rushed, and based on an order.

“Alam ng lahat na sa pulitika, walang libreng pirma. Kaya bago pa kayo pumirma, sagutin ninyo muna ang taumbayan -- ano ang kapalit, sino ang nagdikta, at kanino kayo tunay na loyal?” Paolo said.

(Everyone knows that in politics, there is no such thing as a free signature. So before you sign, ask the people first—what is the price, who dictated it, and to whom are you truly loyal to?)

“Alalahanin ninyo na ‘di lang boses ng taumbayan ang inyong pinakiki-alaman…kung magkano man ang pinangako sa inyo, pera ng taumbayan yan. Taumbayan na lalong naghihirap at galit na galit sa kasakiman ng mga nakaupo,” he added.

(Remember that it is not only the voice of the people you are heeding… whatever amount was promised to you is the people’s money. The same people who are getting poorer and angrier at the greed of those in power.)

Reacting to Paolo’s statement, Tinio said one of the basis of the Vice President’s impeachment complaint is the use of confidential funds.

Tinio said the Vice President should be held accountable for spending public funds.

“Parang pinalalabas niya na purely political o pawang politika lang ang isyu laban sa Bise Presidente. Ang totoo, mayroon talagang winaldas, binulsa at nawalang confidential funds. Napakaraming ebidensiya,” he told Super Radyo dzBB.

(He is making it appear that the issue against the Vice President is purely political. In truth, confidential funds were misused, kept, and went missing. There is ample evidence.)

“Kung sakaling magdesisyon ang complainants na magpa-file na sila, handa tayong mag-endorse,” he added.

(If the complainants decide to proceed with filing the case, we are ready to endorse it.)

The Senate had voted to transfer to the archives the articles of impeachment against the Vice President, following the decision of the Supreme Court (SC) to declare her impeachment unconstitutional.

Senator Rodante Marcoleta initially moved for the dismissal of the articles of impeachment, but agreed to Senator Joel Villanueva's amendment that the complaint instead be archived.

The SC said the Articles of Impeachment are barred by the one-year rule under Article XI Section 3 paragraph 5 of the Constitution. Moreover, magistrates ruled that the articles violate the right to due process.

Article XI, Section 3, paragraph 5 of the Constitution states that “No impeachment proceedings shall be initiated against the same official more than once within a period of one year; include the circumstances on the filing of the first three impeachment complaints." — Mariel Celine Serquiña/RF, GMA Integrated News