Lawmaker Speaks on Impeachment Court’s Power over VP Sara Duterte Trial
SARA DUTERTE – Manila 3rd District Representative Joel Chua said the Vice President could be required to return the misused public funds.
Vice Pres. Duterte is faced with an impeachment issue for a few months now. The House of Representatives has approved the impeachment of the Vice President who is surrounded by issues and questions regarding the Confidential Funds use of the offices she handled.
The issues concern the Confidential Funds of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd). It was in 2024 when Duterte resigned from being the secretary of DepEd. Since then, she has been throwing tirades against Pres. Bongbong Marcos.
It is now up to the Senate on the proceedings of an impeachment trial against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte. Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero has released the proposed timetable for the impeachment trial of Duterte. Based on the timeline set by the SP, the tentative date for the start of the trial is July 30.
Recently, Manila 3rd District Rep. Joel Chua who is the chairperson of the House of Representatives Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability said that Vice Pres. Sara Duterte could be required to return the misused public funds in case she will be impeached.
Based on a report on Cebu Daily News, Rep. Chua recognized that the power of the impeachment court is limited to two (2) penalties only which could be the removal from office and the disqualification from holding public office. According to the lawmaker, the conviction can lead to the filing of administrative and criminal cases.
The Ombudsman can file a case against Duterte after the impeachment as per the lawmaker who is one of the members of the prosecution panel.
“Once na-convict na po siya sa impeachment, pupuwede naman pong kasuhan sa Ombudsman ang ating Vice President dito po sa mga kasong ito,” Chua said.
Manila 3rd District Rep. Joel Chua is confident that the prosecution has a solid evidence against Vice Pres. Duterte. He stressed the documentary evidence like PSA records. Amid the issue, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte is “unbothered” as per her brother, Davao Mayor Baste Duterte.