Castro on Marcos’ defense of VP Duterte: Impeachment part of democracy

Vice President Sara Duterte (left) and Senator Imee Marcos. Photos from Inday Sara Dutere FB page/Senate PRIB

MANILA, Philippines — ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro has reminded Senator Imee Marcos that impeachment is a constitutional mechanism and therefore a part of democracy.

Castro said it on Monday after Marcos slammed House lawmakers who are supposedly rushing to file an impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte, saying they wanted to play with democracy.

“Impeachment is a constitutional mechanism that serves as a recourse for the people against abuse by high government officials. It is an essential part of our democratic processes to ensure that leaders remain accountable to the people they serve,” Castro said.

“Gigil na gigil na ang taumbayan para malaman kung saan ginastos ang iligal na P125 milyon confidential fund ni VP Duterte at dahil iniiwasan niyang sumagot nang matino sa mga mambabatas ay mukhang winaldas nga ito sa di dapat ayon nga sa COA (Commission on Audit),” she added.

(The people are eager to know where VP Duterte spent the illegal P125-million confidential fund, and because she avoided answering the lawmakers’ questions properly, it seems that it was not used correctly as per the COA report.)

According to Castro, “threatening” people who want to exercise their right “to hold officials accountable is a direct attack on democracy.”

“It is imperative that we uphold the people’s right to seek redress against abuses of power,” she said.

“Ang impeachment ay paghahamon sa highest elected officials na humarap sa taumbayan at ipaliwanag ang kanilang mga ginawa at maging accountable sa taumbayan. Hindi rin uubra ang kabastusang ginawa ng VP noong nakaraan dito. Hindi naman puwedeng gagawa ng kalokohan tapos palulusutin na lang. Dapat na mapanagot ang mga may sala,” she explained.

(Impeachment is a challenge to the highest elected officials to face the people and explain what they did, and be accountable.  This mockery of the legislature done by the VP will not suffice. We should not allow people to be involved in anomalies and go away scot-free.  Those involved should be held accountable.)

Marcos has warned those who are behind the impeachment talks that filing one against Duterte would be an attack on democracy since the Vice President got the most number of votes ever in a Philippine election, at 32 million.

READ: Imee Marcos slams impeachment talks vs VP Duterte

Critics of the administration, including the Vice President, have claimed that an impeachment complaint against her is being discussed openly in the House.

READ: VP Sara bares solons openly discuss her impeachment

When Duterte faced the House last August 27 for the deliberations on the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) proposed budget for 2025, Duterte claimed that a lawmaker-friend of hers had a recording of the House members’ discussions on impeaching her.

READ: VP Duterte on impeachment: House lawmaker has recordings of talks

Duterte did not reveal her source, but she mentioned quotes about her possible impeachment as reported by the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

The quotes were lifted from an August 26, 2023 story in the Inquirer quoting Castro saying that they were mulling the filing of an impeachment complaint against Duterte.

READ: Impeachment of VP over intel funds mulled

Castro said back then that the possible impeachment complaint was in connection to the OVP’s use of a P125-million confidential fund in 2022 even though the original budget crafted under former Vice President Leni Robredo did not have such an item.

Currently, House leaders have denied discussing any impeachment complaint against Duterte. La Union Rep. Paolo Ortega V urged the Vice President to name whoever fed her the information so that lawmakers can confirm it.