A GROUP of minority congressmen on Wednesday urged the House of Representatives’ top official to submit the consolidated impeachment complaints against Vice-President (VP) Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio to the office of the House speaker so discussions for her removal could begin.
House Secretary-General Reginald S. Velasco should no longer “sit on” the impeachment complaints by handing them to Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, Party-list Reps. France L. Castro, Arlene D. Brosas, and Raoul Danniel A. Manuel said.
“Never in the history of Congress have we witnessed impeachment complaints languishing in the Secretary-General’s office for more than a month,” they said in a joint statement.
“The House Secretary-General cannot continue to sit on these three complaints. The Constitution mandates that impeachment proceedings must be initiated upon proper filing of complaints,” they added.
The 1987 Constitution states that ouster raps against impeachable officials “shall be included in the Order of Business within 10 session days,” and for it to be referred to its “proper committee” three session days after.
Mr. Velasco did not immediately respond to a Viber message confirming the number of session days since the filing of ouster complaints against Ms. Duterte.
The estranged vice-president is facing three impeachment complaints at the House since last month, with civil society organizations, clergymen, and activists seeking her removal from office due to alleged corruption, bribery, and betrayal of public trust. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio
