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Efforts to impeach Sara Duterte

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Efforts to impeach Sara Duterte
Sara Duterte
AccusedSara Duterte (Vice President of the Philippines)
DateDecember 2, 2024 (2024-12-02) to present
OutcomePending

In December 2024, two impeachment complaints were formally filed against Sara Duterte, the Vice President of the Philippines, and the deputy of President Bongbong Marcos.

Background

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Relationship between Marcos and Duterte

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Bongbong Marcos and Sara Duterte was elected as president and vice president respectively in the 2022 Philippine election as part of the UniTeam alliance.

Duterte was appointed as Marcos' first Secretary of Education after they both took office in mid-2022.[1] Although she preferred to be Secretary of Defense[2] Over the next two years, Duterte's relationship with Marcos' allies detoriated, particularly with House Speaker Martin Romualdez and Marcos' wife and first lady Liza Araneta.[1] She resigned in May 2023 from Lakas–CMD where she served as chairperson. Lakas is part of the ruling coalition.[3][4]

In January 2024, President Marcos insisted that the UniTeam is still "vibrant", referring to his working relationship with his deputy.[5]

Duterte tendered resignation from her position as education secretary in June 2024.[6] When asked about her friendship with Marcos in September 2024, she said they were never friends and merely running mates in the 2022 elections.[7] Marcos responded expressing he was "deceived" about their supposed friendship.[8] In October 2024, she detailed her fallout with Marcos, who she says "does not know how to be president".[9][10]

On November 29, 2024, Bongbong Marcos confirmed that he had directed the House of Representatives to refrain from filing an impeachment motion against Sara Duterte. This is despite his rift with Vice President Sara Duterte which he described as a "a storm in a teacup" and maintained that any potential effort to impeach his deputy would be a waste of time that it "does not make a difference to even one single Filipino life.".[11]

Prior impeachment plans

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The Makabayan bloc, has considered filing an impeachment case against Duterte back in August 2023 over alleged misuse of confidential funds of the Office of the Vice President for 2022.[12] The plan was later judged a "premature".[13]

In August 2024, Sara Duterte said she expects an impeachment case to be filed against her following her fallout with the president and information she heard from allies within the lower house.[14]

In September 2024, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan has described impeachment of Duterte as necessary over her use of confidential funds in 2022 and 2023.[15] In the same month, the House of Representatives have denied any plot to file an impeachment complaint.[16]

Complaints

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24 articles complaint

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In December 2, 2024, the first formal impeachment case was lodged against Vice President Sara Duterte.[17] The complaint listed 24 articles which was categorized in four points – "graft and corruption", "bribery", "betrayal of public trust" and "other high crimes".[18] Aside from corruption, other cited reasons include her alleged role in the extra-judicial killings of the drug suspects and failure to make a stance against China's aggressive sovereignty claims in the South China Sea dispute.[17]

Bayan complaint

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The second impeachment complaint against Duterte was filed on December 4, 2024 by 70 activists led by the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan.[19][20] They cited a single reason which is betrayal of public trust over the illegal use and mishandling of confidential funds. Duterte is accused of committing "gross abuse of discretionary powers" over the ₱612.5 million confidential funds of the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education.[19][21] On December 9, 2024, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) assessed that of the 677 total number of names given in the acknowledgement receipts (ARs) for the Department of Education's confidential funds while Duterte was its head, 405 had no birth record with the agency.[22] By mid-December, the PSA further assessed that of the 1,992 names given in the ARs for the Office of the Vice President's (OVP) confidential funds, 1,322 lacked any birth record with the agency, while only 670 had a "most likely match".[23]

From the religious sector

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On December 5, 2024, House Secretary General Reginald Velasco disclosed that a third complaint by select members of the House of Representatives is being prepared.[24] The complaint was filed by a group of religious workers, lawyers and civil society workers in the House of Representatives against Duterte on December 19 for betrayal of public trust.[25]

Analysis

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Antonio Soriano of the Citizens' Watch for Good Governance questioned the "shotgun" approach of the impeachment complaint. Soriano says that intent regarding Duterte's threat against the president has to be proven. He also believes that Duterte's action under the capacity of mayor of Davao City can't be used for grounds for her impeachment and details of her alleged misused of confidential funds can't be publicly disclosed.[26]

The impeachment procedure is seen gaining traction in the House of Representatives, but the same is not certain in the Senate, with 16 out of 24 votes needed to convict Duterte.[26][27]

Ronald Llamas of the Galahad Consulting Agency, and political advisor of former president Benigno Aquino III believes the delaying the impeachment proceedings to after the 2025 mid-terms election would render Marcos a lame-duck president. Llamas said that Marcos' earlier pronouncement to discourage impeachment proceedings can either be taken "at face value" or as a "tactical move"[28] He previously said in August 2024 that formal impeachment proceedings were likely to begin before the 2025 election.[29]

Soriano even speculated that the motions might even benefit a potential electoral bid of Duterte in the upcoming 2028 elections.[26]

Response

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The Office of the President on December 3, distances itself from the issue and reiterates its stance of not encouraging any impeachment motions stating its the right of private citizens to make such moves.[30] Senate President Chiz Escudero had advised his colleagues not to make public pronouncements about the impeachment complaints.[28]

The Iglesia ni Cristo on December 4 has announced that it plans to hold a rally to oppose the impeachment efforts concurring with President Marcos' stance in November 2024 that efforts to remove Duterte from office is unconstructive.[31]

If Duterte is impeached, Marcos could select among the qualified members of the House of Representatives and Senate to fill the vacancy.[32]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Panti, Llanesca (June 19, 2024). "Uniteam no more: Timeline of Marcos-Duterte tandem's woes". GMA News. Retrieved October 20, 2024.
  2. ^ "Sara ditches preferred defense post to avoid stability 'intrigues'". BusinessWorld. May 12, 2022. Retrieved October 20, 2024.
  3. ^ Galvez, Daphne (May 19, 2023). "Sara Duterte resigns from Lakas-CMD". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved October 20, 2024.
  4. ^ De Leon, Dwight (May 19, 2023). "Uniteam no more? House squabble puts spotlight on 2025, 2028 elections". Rappler. Retrieved October 20, 2024.
  5. ^ "Marcos: UniTeam still vibrant, still working". GMA News. January 30, 2024. Retrieved October 20, 2024.
  6. ^ Tulad, Victoria (June 20, 2024). "'Nabasag 'yung UniTeam': Duterte resignation saddens lawmaker" ['UniTeam shaterred': Duterte resignation saddens lawmaker]. ABS-CBN News (in English and Filipino). Retrieved October 20, 2024.
  7. ^ Lalu, Gabriel Pabico (September 18, 2024). "VP Duterte on President Marcos: We're not talking, we're not friends". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved October 20, 2024.
  8. ^ Subingsubing, Krixia (October 12, 2024). "'I was deceived,' Marcos says of VP Sara's 'friendship'". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved October 20, 2024.
  9. ^ Servallos, Neil Jayson (October 19, 2024). "President Marcos doesn't know how to be president — VP Sara". The Philippine Star. Retrieved October 20, 2024.
  10. ^ Chi, Cristina (October 18, 2024). "'Drag me to hell': Sara Duterte gets personal in fiery tell-all vs Marcos". The Philippine Star. Retrieved October 20, 2024.
  11. ^ Punzalan, Jamaine (November 29, 2024). "Marcos says row with VP Sara Duterte 'a storm in a teacup', tells lawmakers not to file impeachment raps". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  12. ^ Crisostomo, Janvic Mateo,Sheila (August 26, 2023). "Lawmakers eye impeachment case vs Vice President Sara". The Philippine Star. Retrieved December 6, 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  13. ^ Crisostomo, Sheila (August 27, 2023). "Vice President impeachment premature – ACT". The Philippine Star. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  14. ^ Magsambol, Bonz (August 19, 2024). "Sara Duterte on possible impeach rap: 'That is expected'". Rappler. Archived from the original on August 19, 2024. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  15. ^ Lalu, Gabriel Pabico (September 23, 2024). "Impeaching VP Sara Duterte 'necessary' – Bayan". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  16. ^ Gulla, Vivienne (September 11, 2024). "Congressmen deny impeachment plot vs Sara Duterte". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  17. ^ a b Gomez, Jim (December 2, 2024). "Impeachment complaint filed against Philippine Vice President Duterte after she threatened president". AP News. Associated Press. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  18. ^ De Leon, Dwight (December 2, 2024). "LIST: Issues invoked vs VP Sara Duterte in the first impeachment rap against her". Rappler. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  19. ^ a b Gatchalian, Ched Rick; Gulla, Vivienne (December 4, 2024). "VP Sara Duterte faces second impeachment complaint". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  20. ^ De Leon, Dwight (December 4, 2024). "Sara Duterte slapped with second impeachment complaint". Rappler. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  21. ^ Gomez, Jim (December 4, 2024). "Activists file second impeachment complaint against embattled Philippine Vice President Duterte". AP News. Associated Press. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  22. ^ De Leon, Dwight (December 9, 2024). "405 signatories of confi fund receipts under VP Sara-led DepEd 'non-existent'". Rappler. Manila, Philippines: Rappler Inc. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  23. ^ Cabuenas, Jon Viktor (December 15, 2024). "1,300 OVP confidential fund recipients lack PSA records". GMA News Online. GMA Network Inc. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
  24. ^ Gulla, Vivienne (December 5, 2024). "Third impeachment complaint against Sara Duterte looms". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  25. ^ "Priests, NGO members file 3rd impeachment complaint vs VP Sara Duterte". ABS-CBN. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  26. ^ Magsambol, Bonz (December 4, 2024). "Will the impeachment case against Sara Duterte succeed in the Senate?". Rappler. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  27. ^ a b Robles, Raissa (December 5, 2024). "Impeaching Philippine VP Sara Duterte is 'now or never', analysts say". South China Morning Post. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  28. ^ Villaruel, Jauhn Etienne (August 23, 2024). "Sara Duterte impeachment likely before polls: analyst". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  29. ^ Bajo, Anna Felicia (December 3, 2024). "Palace distances from impeachment complaint filed vs. VP Sara". GMA News.
  30. ^ "INC to hold rally to oppose impeach moves vs. VP Sara Duterte". GMA News. December 5, 2024. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  31. ^ Abarca, Charie (December 5, 2024). "Escudero: If Sara Duterte is impeached, President will nominate VP". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
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