VP Sara camp says House impeachment proceedings unconstitutional

The camp of Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday said the impeachment proceedings conducted by the House Committee on Justice were not in accordance with the Constitution.

In a “24 Oras” report, Duterte’s camp said the committee, instead of limiting itself to verified complaints and their attachments, had extended the proceedings to matters that should only be taken up during a full trial.

It added that, based on the current proceedings, the committee’s finding of probable cause to impeach Duterte was not surprising.

Meanwhile, Davao City Rep. Paolo “Pulong” Duterte, the Vice President’s brother, alleged that individuals were calling the chiefs of staff of lawmakers to secure votes in favor of impeachment in exchange for protecting district budgets.

He said that if the House is confident in the complaints against the Vice President, it should allow the evidence to speak for itself.

The House Committee on Justice has yet to respond to the allegations.

While the panel was conducting hearings on the impeachment complaint, Duterte attended a pop-up exhibit in San Pedro, Laguna honoring the country’s past vice presidents.

The Office of the Vice President project recognizes 14 individuals who have served as vice president over the past century.—Mariel Celine Serquiña/MCG, GMA News