VP Sara says House will have to wait and see if she files impeachment reply

Vice President Sara Duterte said the House of Representatives will have to wait and see if she will respond to the impeachment charges filed against her on Monday, March 16, the last day of her 10-day window to do so.

“Malapit naman na ang Monday. Hintayin na lang kung mag-file ako o hindi. Maghintay na lang ang mga taga-House of Representatives,” she said in Mav Gonzales’ report in “24 Oras Weekend” on Sunday. 

(It’s almost Monday. Just wait and see if I file or not. The House of Representatives should just wait.) 

Duterte was attending an exhibit in commemoration of the Office of the Vice President’s 90th anniversary in Davao City on Saturday. 

In her speech, she jested about the 15 vice presidents of the country: “...14 lang kasi hindi pa tapos yung pinaka-15. Hindi natin alam kung ma-impeach siya o hindi. Hindi pa tapos ang kwento niya.” 

(...only 14, because the story of the 15th isn't over yet. We don't know if she will be impeached or not. Her story isn't finished yet.) 

Shorter process if no response

For his part, House Committee on Justice member Terry Ridon said that the lower chamber will wait for Duterte’s response until the end of office hours tomorrow. If she responds, the House panel will let the endorsers and complainants to submit their response while the vice president will later submit a rejoinder. 

“In the event that she does not respond by Monday, the process will be shortened, abbreviated. So ibig sabihin nun [this means], I think as early as the final weeks of this month, pwedeng mag-proceed [we can proceed] to either termination of sufficiency on grounds and then we can proceed sa hearing proper na po,” he said. 

The House Justice panel seeks to start the hearings on April 8. The committee may issue a subpoena on Duterte and her husband’s income tax returns, bank returns, and business records due to an alleged P50-million gap between her salary and declared net worth. 

“The proceedings in the impeachment will in fact provide an opportunity to the vice president to actually explain that P50-million gap,” said Ridon. 

GMA Integrated News is reaching out to Duterte and her husband for a comment on the said matter. 

The panel is also considering rejecting the entry of appearance filed by Michael Poa and Reynold Munsayac as Duterte’s lawyers due to possible conflict of interest. 

“Ngayon ko lang narinig na yung respondent ay hindi pinapayagan kung sino ang kanyang lawyers…So antayin na lang natin kung ano ang mangyayari,” said Duterte. 

(This is the first time I've heard of a respondent not being allowed to choose their own lawyers... So let’s just wait and see what happens.) — Vince Angelo Ferreras/BM, GMA Integrated News