HOUSE Assistant Majority Leader Jay Khonghun on Sunday urged senators to consider the gravity of the impeachment charges against Vice President Sara Duterte as they prepare for trial.
Khonghun posed a stark question: “Is it okay to hire an assassin to kill your wife or husband?”
“If a government official orchestrated a plot to assassinate the President, First Lady, and the Speaker of the House, and if someone made the same threat against your own families, how would you respond?” he asked.
“This is the question senators must ask themselves as they fulfill their duty under the Constitution to try VP Duterte,” he added.
The November 23, 2024 threat allegedly made by the Vice President against President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, and Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez is Impeachment Charge No. 1 against her. The threat, announced in a press conference and widely circulated on social media, has led the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to file charges for grave threats and inciting to sedition against Duterte with the Department of Justice.
Khonghun emphasized that the Constitution mandates the Senate to act ‘forthwith’ on impeachment cases, stressing the urgency of beginning the trial.
“This is not just about one person. It is about fidelity to the Constitution, the sanctity of our institutions, the integrity of our democracy, and the security of the President and every Filipino,” he stated.
“We should not allow public officials and former influential leaders to use power to eliminate political rivals and escape accountability,” he added.
Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre earlier warned senators that the risk to the lives of President Marcos Jr., First Lady Marcos, and Speaker Romualdez increases every day that the Senate delays Duterte’s trial.
Khonghun assured that the House prosecution panel is prepared to present compelling evidence, underscoring that no one is above the law.
“The Constitution does not allow us to look away or delay justice. The Filipino people are watching, and history will judge those who stand for accountability and those who choose to enable lawlessness,” he declared.
Khonghun expressed confidence that Impeachment Charge No. 1 alone would be sufficient to convict Duterte, citing solid evidence, including videos of her November 23, 2024 press conference meltdown, where she allegedly made the threats.
“So let’s start the trial now. Any delay benefits the Vice President and gives her more opportunity to carry out her threats,” Khonghun warned.
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