Solons who backed impeach raps vs. VP Duterte unfazed by her 2028 plans

Two lawmakers who endorsed the impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte are unfazed by her announcement of her plans to run for President in the 2028 elections.

ML Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima, who endorsed the second and third impeachment complaints against Duterte, said the announcement is “a political strategy.”

“It can be either na matatakot na yung iba, mag-aalangan na kasi kung siya nga ang maging Pangulo, baka pag-initan talaga sila. And then, or, magba-backfire. Kasi iisipin ang mga miyembro ng Kamara, hindi kami basta-basta tinatakot o hindi kami basta-basta maiimpluwensiya ng ganyang style,” she said in an interview.

(It can either be others are afraid or are having second doubts. Because if she becomes President, they might end up on the hot seat. And then, it will backfire. Because members of Congress may think, we are not easily frightened or influenced by that kind of style.)

De Lima said she is “more emboldened” after Duterte’s pronouncement of her political plans.

“I’m more emboldened now, actually. Seryoso pong usapin ito. Hindi ko po tatanggapin o hindi po ako papayag na maging endorser ng dalawang complaints kung hindi po ako naniniwala na may laban po itong mga complaints na ito. At talagang may basehan. At talagang panahon na panagutin talaga si VP Sara, irrespective of her presidential ambition,” she said.

(I’m more emboldened now, actually. This is a serious mater. I will not accept or I will not agree to be the endorser of two complaints if I do not believe that these complaints have a chance and have basis. And it is really time to hold VP Sara accountable, irrespective of her presidential ambition.)

For his part, ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio questioned Duterte’s track record. Tinio endorsed the Makabayan coalition’s impeachment complaint against the Vice President, the first to be filed earlier this month.

“Kung susuriin talaga natin ano ba ang aktuwal na track record at achievements ni Vice President Sara Dutente mismo? So naging mayor siya. Nothing notable about her being mayor. Noong naging Vice President siya at DepEd secretary, di tumagal bilang DepEd secretary at dismal ang record, for example sa classroom construction,” Tinio said in a separate interview.

(If we look at it closely, what is the actual track record and achievements of Vice President Sara Duterte? So she became mayor. Nothing notable about her being mayor. When she became Vice President and Department of Education secretary, she didn’t last long as DepEd secretary and she had a dismal record for example in classroom construction.)

“Ilang daan lang napatayo sa isang taon tapos ginulo ang curriculum, tapos pinahirapan ang mga guro at estudyante sa kanyang tinatawag na Matatag Curriculum,” he added.

(Only a few hundreds were constructed in a year and she messed the curriculum, then the teachers and students were burdened with her Matatag Curriculum.)

“So, really, nothing notable except for yung (the) pagwaldas ng confidential funds,” Tinio said.  

He also believed that Duterte is not deserving of a chance to run for President in the 2028 elections.

“Naharap nga siya ng impeachment complaint. Ibig sabihin nito, hindi siya karapat-dapat na tumakbo dahil nga kakaupo pa lang niya as Vice President, ilang buwan pa lang, di na nakatiis ay winaldas na in 11 days ‘yung confidential fund. Paano pa kaya kung maging Pangulo?”

(She is already facing an impeachment complaint. This means, she is not fit to run because she had just assumed as Vice President for a few months. She can’t help it and spent confidential funds in 11 days. What more if she becomes President?)

GMA News Online is reaching out to Duterte for comment and will publish it once available.

In an interview in Iligan City on Tuesday, the Vice President said the announcement of her presidential bid for the 2028 elections had nothing to do with the ongoing impeachment process at the House of Representatives.

“Hindi naman (Not really),” she said, adding that the impeachment threat has been there “yesterday, tomorrow, today.”

Meanwhile, de Lima and Tinio both expressed confidence that the impeachment complaints against Duterte that they endorsed will be found sufficient both in form and substance.

On Monday, the House referred the four impeachment complaints against the Vice President to the House justice panel, marking the initiation of the complaints.  

This was the second straight year a complaint was initiated against Duterte. This action barred any filing of impeachment complaints against the Vice President for a year. — JMA, GMA Integrated News