Mindanao [Philippine], May 12: The Philippine House of Representatives has voted overwhelmingly to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte for the second time, even though her impending trial remains in question after her allies wrested control of the Philippine Senate.
A total of 257 out of 318 House members voted to impeach Duterte, far surpassing the one-third threshold required to send the complaint to the Philippine Senate. A total of 26 members voted against the impeachment, while nine abstained.
The impeachment vote is the latest episode in the ongoing political feud between the Duterte family and incumbent President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, plunging the country into deeper political turmoil, even as it faces serious economic uncertainty due to the global energy crisis.
"The question here is not just about legality but also about morality and constitutionality," said Gerville Luistro, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee that conducted the investigation and endorsed the impeachment complaint.
"We cannot stay blind and stay quiet. Our vote today is not just about one person. Our vote today is about what kind of a republic we want [to] leave to our children," Luistro said.
The charges against Duterte include two violations of the constitution and betrayal of public trust for misuse of confidential government funds, failure to disclose her wealth, bribery and in relation to the death threats against Marcos, his wife Liza Araneta and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
One of the most damning allegations in the complaint against the vice president includes private bank transactions flagged by the anti-money laundering agency of more than $110mn.
Source: Qatar Tribune
