Duterte impeachment complainants, endorsers laud survey result

National

COMPLAINANTS and lawmakers who endorsed the impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte welcomed the results of a recent survey supposedly showing that the majority of Filipinos are backing moves to oust the country’s second highest government official.

Akbayan Party-list Rep. Perci Cendaña, endorser of the first impeachment complaint, said the survey shows that many Filipinos are frustrated with the actions of the Vice President.

"This significant figure reflects the growing public consensus for her removal from office, driven by mounting frustrations over her questionable leadership and actions. It is a clear indication that the Filipino people are awakening to the urgent need for accountability among our highest officials," Cendaña said in a Manila Bulletin report.

Cendaña added that the survey proved the growing distrust of the leadership of Duterte and that she should be held accountable for the questionable expenses made by her office as well as during her term as the secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd).

The survey, which was conducted from December 12 and 18 last year, showed that 41 percent are in favor of Duterte’s impeachment, 35 percent oppose it and the remaining 19 percent are still undecided.

ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro said more Filipinos will support the impeachment complaints in the coming days.

Castro also urged the House to immediately act on the complaints, adding that Duterte should be accountable for her questionable spending of the government fund.

House secretary-general Reginald Velasco said these complaints will be processed starting Monday next week, revealing that He plans to talk with the lawmakers about the matter.

Velasco said he is waiting for the possibility of filing a consolidated version of the three impeachment complaints. This after he was informed of the plan to consolidate the three versions of the impeachment complaints which will be submitted before his office.

Once the complaints are submitted to his office , House Speaker Martin Romualdez will have to decide if one or all of the impeachments will be transmitted to the committee on rules.

The Committee on Rules will submit these to the Committee on Justice and will have to act on the matter within 60 session days.

Under the Constitution, impeachment complaints filed against an official should earn 103 signatures from the lawmakers in the House.(LAO