Impeachment case vs VP too early – Makabayan lawmaker

Vice President Sara Duterte (File photo by LYN RILLON / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, PHILIPPINES — An impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte for her P125-million confidential expenses in 2022 is too early for now, House Deputy Minority Leader Rep. France Castro on Saturday, a day after the three-member Makabayan bloc was reportedly mulling such a complaint.

“We must focus on the facts first and ask for accountability. Talks of impeachment are premature,” Castro, an  ACT Teachers party-list lawmaker, said.

Castro made the remarks amid Duterte’s caustic response to the Makabayan bloc’s questions over the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) confidential expenses without an appropriation in the 2022 national budget.

The Vice President said the Makabayan solon “wildly and masterfully arranged some allegations,” which will be answered when the OVP presents its proposed budget this week.

‘Seething disdain’

Duterte also dismissed Castro’s “seething disdain.” She said she hoped Castro “finds gratification and great joy over the thought of my impeachment from office.”

On Friday, Castro said Duterte might be liable for incurring P125 million in confidential expenses last year. She pointed out that the OVP had no appropriation for confidential expenses in the 2022 General Appropriations Act (GAA).

The lawmaker cited possible violations of provisions in the Constitution and the Revised Penal Code that require expenses to have corresponding appropriations in the national budget.

Castro said the Makabayan bloc would wait for the Commission on Audit’s report on the P125-million confidential expenses of the OVP before deciding on their next move.

On Saturday, Castro pressed the OVP anew to “provide a detailed public accounting of how the P125 million was spent.”

“The OVP used those funds as confidential funds, believing they were protected by the secrecy rule. But as it is, these may not be considered as confidential funds based on the GAA 2022 and a joint circular on confidential and intelligence funds,” she said.

Castro said Duterte “needs to explain how she could incur obligations amounting to P125 million in confidential expenses in the last six months of 2022, despite the fact that her office had no congressional authorization to do so for that year.”