President Ferdinand Marcos Jr (right) and vice president Sara Duterte (left). - AP file
MANILA: A House of Representatives lawmaker has urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. not to interfere in the impeachment process against Vice President Sara Duterte, emphasising that the government has a “constitutional duty” to pursue accountability.
“President Marcos should not interfere with the impeachment process. Congress has a constitutional duty to process this case immediately. The people deserve accountability and transparency,” House Deputy Minority leader Rep. France Castro said in a statement on Sunday (Jan 19).
Castro, along with former ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio, urged lawmakers to act swiftly on the impeachment process, citing public demand for justice.
“If 103 endorsers are secured next week, the case can be immediately passed to the Senate, and there will be no issues with attendance or numbers, as the Senate will handle it from there,” Castro explained in Filipino.
“The Senate can then promptly tackle this or call for a special session if necessary,” she added.
Tinio echoed Castro’s call, warning against allowing technicalities to obstruct the pursuit of justice.
“Accountability should not be set aside just because of technicalities or problems. We cannot allow procedural or election matters to obstruct justice,” Tinio said.
“When we dismiss accountability for technical reasons, we only embolden corrupt officials and weaken democratic institutions,” he added.
Castro likewise appealed to fellow lawmakers to prioritise good governance and accountability.
“This is not about politics — this is about upholding the principles of good governance and ensuring that public officials remain accountable to the Filipino people,” she said.
On Thursday (Jan 16), complainants and their supporters held a press conference following a Holy Mass at the Edsa Shrine in Quezon City to call for justice.
The first impeachment complaint was filed last Dec 2, endorsed by Akbayan party-list Rep. Percival Cendaña.
The second was submitted on Dec 4 by Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), while the third was filed on Dec 19, led by religious groups and lawyers.
“The impeachment process is not about personal grievances or political vendettas. It is a moral obligation to demand accountability from those in power,” the groups said in an open letter read at the conference. - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN