Imee claims P5M cash offered to solons for VP Sara Duterte impeachment

Days before the House of Representatives votes on the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte, Senator Imee Marcos claimed that congressmen are being offered a massive "incentive package" to secure a "yes" vote.

In a message to GMA News, the presidential sister said the alleged offer includes P5 million in cash, P3 million in additional Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) per month, and P150 million worth of projects.

On the other hand, those who vote "no" would reportedly face zero budget and possible legal charges.

"Congs lang [ang may offer]. [Sa] senators, no offer—just under [the] gun haha," Marcos said in a message to GMA News. "It is the carrot and the stick."

(Only congressmen [got the offer]. [For] senators, no offer — just under [the] gun haha.)

Marcos has yet to respond to questions regarding who is funding these alleged offers or where the money would come from.

House Committee on Justice chairperson Representative Gerville Luistro who led the conduct of the impeachment hearings, on Saturday denied Marcos' allegation of a P5M offer for a "yes" vote on Duterte's impeachment.

"I can speak for myself only and I deny that pronouncement of Sen. Imee with all due respect to her. Wala po akong na-encounter na ganyan (I have not encountered anything like that)," Luistro said.

Regarding Marcos' allegation of a "no" vote to be met by zero budget and possible legal charges, Luistro said: "I deny that as well. As far I am concerned, wala po tayong naririnig, nae-encounter na ganyan. As a matter of fact, wala pong kumausap sa akin re: this impeachment process since Day 1 of our proceeding of our justice committee."

(As far as I am concerned, we have not heard of this or encountered such an offer. As a matter of fact, no one talked to me re: this impeachment process since Day 1 of our proceeding of our justice committee.)

GMA News Online reached out to Speaker Faustino "Bojie" Dy III as well as the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and Atty. Michael Poa, spokesperson of Duterte's defense team, but they have yet to issue statements as of posting time.

The senator also noted that the minority bloc in the Senate has yet to meet regarding the impeachment.

"Wala pang meeting [ang] minority kasi wala pa [ang] HOR [impeachment] complaint," she added.

Asked what the minority bloc's action would be should the complaint reach the Senate, Marcos stated: "The role of every senator, and not just the minority, is to see to it that the Constitution and the Senate rules are complied with, that procedural and substantive due process are observed, and that whatever outcome is legally sound."

May 11

Luistro is scheduled to sponsor the committee report and the resolution setting forth the Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte during the House plenary session on Monday, May 11.

"Well, basically, the sponsorship is anchored on the committee report. So I will be speaking on everything that happened before the Justice Committee," Luistro said in an online interview.

"That would include the determination of form, substance, ground, and ultimately probable cause, the evidence that was presented by the complainants, and of course, the fact that this evidence remains unrebutted even to the date of the plenary vote because the respondent vice president never answered the allegation of offenses in the impeachment complaint," she added.

The articles of impeachment approved by the House Committee on Justice on May 4 charge the Vice President with betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution, corruption, and other high crimes over the following acts:

• misuse/abuse of confidential funds;
• unexplained wealth;
• bribery; and
• plot to assassinate President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Marcos, and former Speaker and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez.

After Luistro's sponsorship speech, members of the House may interpellate her.

After the voting on the committee report and the resolution setting forth the Articles of Impeachment, the House may elect the 11 impeachment prosecutors.

The Rules on Impeachment state that "the voting on a resolution with the Articles of Impeachment of the Committee on Justice or a contrary resolution dismissing the impeachment complaint shall be by roll call, and the Secretary General shall record the vote of each Member."

A total of 106 votes are needed to transmit the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate.

If the required number of votes is reached, the Articles of Impeachment will be endorsed to the Senate.

Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III on Monday said the Senate will convene as an impeachment court upon receipt of the Articles of Impeachment against Duterte from the House of Representatives.

Sotto said that under the Constitution, senators are mandated to convene as an impeachment court "forthwith" or immediately following the transmittal of the Articles of Impeachment from the lower chamber.

However, the Senate chief clarified that the impeachment trial will "take some time," citing preparations, including pretrial proceedings.

Duterte meanwhile said Wednesday she is unbothered by the possibility of losing her post amid ongoing impeachment efforts.

Speaking before supporters and members of the Filipino community in the Netherlands, Duterte said she could continue helping Filipinos even outside government service, while also criticizing the administration’s priorities, corruption, and handling of the economy.

She noted that she never sought the presidency and was prepared whether she remained vice president or not.—with a report from Ted Cordero/KG, GMA News