Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte reacted on Sunday to the two impeachment complaints filed against his sister, Vice President Sara Duterte, saying these are just a smear campaign against the vice president.
The vice president is currently facing two impeachment complaints.
The first impeachment complaint was filed at the House of Representatives (HoR) earlier this month and endorsed by Akbayan Party-list Rep. Perci Cendaña citing violation of the constitution, graft and corruption, bribery, betrayal of public trust, and other high crimes as grounds for impeachment.
The second impeachment complaint was filed by Reps. France Castro, Arlene Brosas, and Raoul Manuel of the Makabayan bloc.
The mayor challenged House Speaker Martin Romualdez to do the impeachment proceedings.
“Bantay dili na nimo idayon Romualdeza ka. Smear campaign na sa vice president ng impeachment niya. Ikaw Martin idayon na, ayaw pag atik atik dinha, ayaw sig panghadlok dinha. Idayon, isog man kaha ka, kuyaw man kaha ka idayon ng impeachment sa vice president,” the mayor said in his “Basta Dabawenyo” podcast.
Davao City Third District Rep. Isidro Ungab, who was the guest of the mayor in his podcast, explained that under the Constitution on accountability of public officers and the rules of impeachment of the HoR, the Speaker of the House has 10 working days to act on the complaints.
“The constitution is very clear that upon receipt of the impeachment complaint, the speaker has 10 session days. He is constitutionally obliged to calendar it within 10 days. Ang entire process sa House is 60 days. As of last night for the past two weeks naga observe ko kung na file na sa Congress for first reading, wala pa man,” Ungab said.
The vice president recently said she welcomed the impeachment complaints filed against her.
She also assured that the Office of the Vice President (OVP) already hired lawyers to help in handling the cases filed.
The vice president also assured she is not planning to leave the country or go into hiding once the warrant of arrest is served in line with the impeachment cases filed against her.
