THE Makabayan bloc takes note of the Supreme Court En Banc’s decision denying with finality the Motion for Reconsideration filed by the House of Representatives assailing the Court’s earlier ruling that declared the articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte unconstitutional.
The Supreme Court’s final ruling effectively disables the so-called “fast track mode” of impeachment that the House leadership attempted to use in processing the impeachment complaint against the Vice President.
With this ruling, the SC made future impeachment proceedings more difficult. The means to hold accountable the highest officials of the land, through the 1/3 vote of the House of Representatives, will now be even more difficult for citizens to pursue. The SC has rewritten the rules for impeachment in favor of the impeachable officials like the President and Vice President.
Despite this adverse ruling, we believe that the issues raised in the impeachment complaint against Vice President Duterte—including her alleged culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, and other high crimes—remain valid and must be addressed through the proper constitutional process.
The Makabayan bloc is now prepared to refile the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte because it is necessary and in the interest of the Filipino people.
The Vice President must be held accountable for her actions and omissions that have violated the public trust. The confidential funds scandal, the misuse of public resources, and the pattern of abuse of authority cannot be swept under the rug simply because of procedural technicalities.
The Filipino people deserve answers. They deserve accountability. And they deserve a Vice President who respects the Constitution and serves the public interest, not personal or political agendas.
The anger and demand for accountability from the Filipino people cannot be archived or dismissed. It must be brought to the proper forum where the truth can be established and justice can be served.
The Makabayan bloc, together with concerned citizens and progressive organizations, will continue to pursue all legal and constitutional remedies to ensure that Vice President Duterte faces the charges against her. We call on our colleagues in Congress and all Filipinos who value accountability and good governance to support this effort.
Accountability cannot wait. Justice must be served
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