House urged to hasten VP ouster

A MINORITY lawmaker on Monday urged the House of Representatives majority bloc to begin efforts to secure enough votes to directly transmit the impeachment cases against Vice-President (VP) Sara Duterte-Carpio to the Senate.

House Deputy Minority Leader and Party-list Rep. Antonio L. Tinio said it would be better if the House immediately transmits the complaint to the Senate, which would convene as an impeachment court, so Ms. Duterte could promptly face the allegations against her.

“It’s still better if we fast-track this so we can move straight to trial and finally settle, once and for all, the issue of the Vice-President’s alleged misuse of confidential funds,” he told reporters in Filipino.

Ms. Duterte faces three impeachment complaints alleging the misuse of P612.5 million in confidential and intelligence funds allocated to her office and to the Education department when she was secretary.

Mr. Tinio said the complaints will likely be referred to the House floor for its referral to the Justice committee on Wednesday, which would jump-start her impeachment proceedings and bar more complaints from being filed against her.

“If we go through the Justice committee, that’s fine too, so everyone is refreshed,” he said. “It’s also better that everyone is reminded again why there is a strong basis for impeaching the Vice-President.” — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio