Impeachment endorsers ready to present new evidence against VP Sara Duterte

The fresh impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte will include new evidence as well as allegations that she has yet to answer, two House members who endorsed the complaints indicated on Friday.

Akbayan party-list Rep. Perci Cendaña and ACT Teachers party-list Rep. made the remarks in separate interviews amid the challenge posed by House Committee on Justice chairperson Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro and the National Unity Party as regards the need for new pieces of evidence.

"Yes, it is challenging. And I think... we're up to the challenge," Akbayan Rep Perci Cendaña, who endorsed the second impeachment complaint, said in an online interview today.

"So this is not a case of whether the allegations are new or old. Ito ay kaso ng hindi pa rin nasasagot ang mga alegasyong ito. And if Sarah Duterte is good at something, it is running away from accountability," he added.

(This is a case of allegations that she has yet to answer.)

"We're looking forward to the start of the impeachment proceeding, yung hearing ng Justice Committee at tingin namin dapat dito, walang problema both sa issue ng sufficiency in form and substance," Tinio said.

(When the Justice Committee conducts its hearing, we don't see any issue in sufficiency in form and substance.)

Among the new evidence expected to be presented are Duterte's bank records and the affidavit of Ramil Madriaga, who claimed to be the vice president's former aide.

"Yes, may mga bago. Kahit yung complaint natin, in-include natin yung affidavit ni Madriaga. So, and in particular, may mga bahagi doon na nakaugnay sa paggamit ng P125 million in 11 days noong December 2022. So yes, may bago diyan na lalabas," Tinio said.

(Yes, there will be new evidence. Even in our complaint, we included Madriaga's affidavit. So, in particular, there are parts there that are linked to the use of P125 million in 11 days in December 2022. So yes, there are new things that will come out.)

"'Yung unexplained wealth na makikita natin 'yan pag nasa panahon na tayo ng presentation ng evidence pagdating sa usapin ng kanyang SALN at hopefully, mabuksan yung kanilang bank accounts," Cendaña said.

(We will see the unexplained wealth during the time of the presentation of evidence, when it comes to the matter of his SALN, and hopefully, their bank accounts will be opened.)

The confidentiality of bank deposits is protected by the Bank Secrecy Law.

But impeachment is an exception, said House Committee on Justice Vice Chairperson Bukidnon Rep Jonathan Keith Flores.

"I know that that's one of the exceptions on the Bank Secrecy Law, yung AMLC din, na pwede ma-explore yon kung may impeachment cases," Flores said in an interview on Feb 25.

Impeachment complaint endorsers have already met the complainants or are scheduled to meet with them over the weekend as part of their preparation for the House Committee on Justice's meeting on March 2.

Cendaña said there are also plans for all the endorsers of the four impeachment complaints against the vice president to meet to prepare for their presentation of evidence.

"Well, there are a few conversations in terms of coming together," Cendaña said. –NB, GMA Integrated News