THE impeachment complaint filed against Vice President Sara Duterte is and should be an important election issue, according to House Assistant Majority Leader Amparo Maria Zamora and 1-Rider Partylist Rep. Rodge Gutierrez.
Speaking before reporters on Tuesday, Zamora said the timing of the impeachment is an opportunity for voters to ask candidates if it is only proper to call on officials to account for the improper disbursement of public funds.
“Dapat natin tanungin ang ating mga inihahalal kung dapat bang panagutin ng tao tungkol sa pagwawaldas ng pera ng bayan, patungkol sa hindi wastong paggamit ng pera ng bayan, patungkol sa hindi pagsunod sa Saligang Batas patungkol sa paggamit ng pera ng bayan,” she said.
Quoting Senate President Francis Escudero, Gutierrez said the timing of the impeachment within the campaign period would allow voters to get to know candidates better.
“Makikita po natin ano po ang kanilang stand, ano po ang kanilang gagawin, ano po ang kanilang personal convictions,” he said, adding that the impeachment should be welcomed as an election issue and not considered as an external factor.
The lawmaker maintained that the House will respect the timeline given by Escudero regarding the trial proper of the impeachment proceedings. He nonetheless said that other important activities may be done before the actual trial, like the formulation of impeachment rules, among others, stressing that the convening of the impeachment court is entirely up to the Senate.
“I don’t think the prosecution team will make any moves … hindi po kami mananawagan (ng special session) for the simple reason na ayaw po naming ma misinterpret as trying to unduly interfere or influence yung yet to be convened impeachment court,” Gutierrez said.
Meanwhile, Gutierrez shared that the House prosecution team will use the time to fortify its case against the Vice President, which may include the recent findings of the Commission on Audit about P12.3 billion unsettled financial transactions of the Department of Education.
“It will really depend on the appreciation of the evidence,” Gutierrez said, adding “Although it is alarming that there is P12.3 billion unsettled financial transactions… if it would be found to be in line with allegations natin dun sa impeachment complaint I don’t think the prosecution team … will shy away from making use of such evidence.”
