3rd impeach complaint vs VP sent to Speaker

MANILA, Philippines — The third impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte has been transmitted to the office of Speaker Faustino Dy III.

House of Representatives Secretary General Cheloy Garafil said the transmittal took place Monday night “in accordance with the Constitution and the rules of the House of Representatives.”

Private citizens, mainly members of the clergy, civil society leaders and legal practitioners, filed the complaint, which was endorsed by Deputy Minority Leader Leila de Lima of Mamamayang Liberal (ML) party-list.

“I emphasize that the role of the Office of the Secretary General in impeachment proceedings is strictly ministerial. My office is tasked only with the receipt, verification and transmission of impeachment complaints and their endorsements,” Garafil said.

The complainants include Rev. Fr. Joel Saballa, Rev. Fr. Joselito Sarabia, Rev. Fr. Edilberto Baculi, Rev. Fr. Rogelio del Rosario, Pastor Leonard Arevalo, Pinky Tam, Maria Loreto Lopez, lawyers Jalilo dela Torre, Democrito Barcenas and Lourdes Barcenas, and religious sisters Ma. Liza Ruedas, Violeta Cecilio and Geraldine Denoga.

The group is demanding accountability mainly for Duterte’s unliquidated P612.5-million confidential funds.

Meanwhile, the Vice President said her lawyers are preparing to take action against her alleged bagman and detained former security aide Ramil Madriaga who reportedly had agreed to testify in her impeachment case.

Madriaga had claimed to have personally delivered huge sums of money to her chief security aide during the May 2022 presidential elections.

“We will take action (against Madriaga). I can’t tell you now because my lawyers are forbidding me from speaking, because I can’t say what my lawyers will do because those who are attacking me will be able to prepare and those who filed cases against me. So they don’t want to give the other side a tip on what to do, but in the next few days, there will be news about that,” Duterte said in Zamboanga City.

Madriaga, detained at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City, also claimed that drug lords and Chinese-sponsored Philippine offshore gaming operators bankrolled Duterte’s campaign for vice president.

Lawyer for complainants in the third impeachment case Amando Virgil Ligutan said Madriaga’s admission in his affidavit has provided the “missing link” to questions regarding Duterte’s misuse of P125 million of her confidential funds.

Duterte did not comment on the filing of the third impeachment case against her.

“The defense has already released a reaction,” she said. — Jose Rodel Clapano, Bella Cariaso, Mark Ernest Villeza