HOUSE leaders have dismissed Vice President Sara Duterte’s petition before the Supreme Court (SC) seeking to halt her looming impeachment, condemning it as a desperate and baseless legal maneuver designed to evade accountability.
Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales Jr. of Pampanga and Deputy Speaker David “Jay-Jay” Suarez of Quezon, emphasized that Duterte’s petition is a clear attempt to subvert the constitutional authority of the House of Representatives to determine whether she should be held accountable for alleged misuse of public funds and other violations.
“The Constitution is clear – impeachment is the sole prerogative of Congress,” Gonzales stated. “Natatakot na sila kaya gusto nang pigilan ang impeachment process. Mukhang totoo ang allegations on corruption lalo’t masisilip ang bank records.”
“VP Duterte’s petition is nothing more than a desperate attempt to evade accountability,” he added.
Suarez maintained that the House is following due process, and Duterte’s petition sets a dangerous precedent of judicial overreach into a purely constitutional process.
“The House will not be deterred by legal theatrics. We will continue to uphold our constitutional mandate and ensure that the impeachment process proceeds fairly and transparently,” Suarez added.
Suarez also underscored that Duterte’s legal move “reeks of panic and a blatant effort to undermine the impeachment process even before it formally begins.”
“If she truly believes she is innocent, she should face the charges head-on instead of running to the courts for protection. This attempt to short-circuit the process only raises more questions about what she is trying to hide,” Suarez pointed out.
The House leaders vowed to resist any attempts to derail or delay proceedings through legal maneuvers, reiterating their commitment to upholding the integrity of the impeachment process.
“We will not be intimidated. The House will exercise its authority responsibly, fairly and without fear or favor,” they said in a joint statement .
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