Sara Duterte skipping impeach hearing is constitutional violation —Luistro

House justice committee chairperson Gerville Luistro questioned Wednesday Vice President Sara Duterte’s faithfulness to her oath of office to follow the Constitution amid her absence in the impeachment proceedings.

Luistro made the position during Day 1 of the hearing of the evidence concerning the two impeachment complaints leveled against the Vice President, saying that the latter's absence was not exactly in line with her previous statements that she is ready to face the charges against her. 

“She is, apparently, ready to face the accusations and defend herself at length. And yet, it appears she will not even participate. We recall the words of Justice (Noel) Tijam in the previous impeachment against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno: failure to participate in the hearings before the Committee on Justice is tantamount to a culpable violation of the Constitution,” she said. 

“Ang tanong ngayon: maaari rin ba nating sabihin ito sa Bise Presidente?” Luistro asked.

(Can we say now that the Vice President is committing culpable violation of the Constitution in skipping our proceedings?) 

The two impeachment complaints filed against the Vice President alleged that she committed betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the Constitution due to the following deeds:

• threatening to kill President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. and his family in an explicit-filled video
• alleged misuse of P612.5 million confidential funds
• alleged non-declaration of assets and
• abuse of power and bribery using confidential funds

Luistro then said that the Vice President, just like all the rest of elected officials, took the same oath which reads “I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully and conscientiously fulfill my duties,  preserve and defend the Constitution, execute its laws, do justice to every man, and consecrate myself to the service of the nation.”

“Para sa lahat ng kawani ng gobyerno, para sa lahat ng opisyal ng pamahalaan, para sa Bise Presidente, tinutupad ba natin ito? Pinapanindigan ba natin ito,” she pointed out. 

(To all public officials, to the Vice President, are we able to fulfill that oath of office? Are we staying true to our mandate?) 

Luistro assured the public that the House justice panel will remain faithful to the Constitution in conducting its proceedings. 

“Dito sa Komite, susundan natin ang Saligang Batas, Hindi natin tatalikuran ang ating tungkulin. Iyan ang inaasahan ng taumbayan. Sapagkat ang panunumpa ay hindi lamang binibigkas sa simula. ito ay pinatutunayan sa bawat pagkakataon na tayo ay sinusubok,” she said.

She then cited the Constitutional provision which entrusts the House with the exclusive power to initiate impeachment cases.

“So regardless of the participation of the Vice President, and even in her absence, this committee will proceed. We will do our duty with resolve, without hesitation, and without delay,” Luistro added.

In a statement, Duterte said she would rather spend her time helping people affected by the soaring prices of petroleum products than attend the hearing, which she claimed the House of Representatives is only using to conduct a “third fishing expedition” against her.

She insisted that there is no evidence to prove that she has committed impeachable offense, saying that the House justice panel should dismiss the impeachment complaints against her at this point. —AOL, GMA Integrated News