House expects answer from VP Duterte, not motion to dismiss

By Jose Cielito Reganit, Philippine News Agency

Vice President Sara Duterte (PNA photo by Joan Bondoc)

MANILA – The House of Representatives expects impeached Vice President Sara Duterte to answer in detail the impeachment charges against her, Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega of La Union said Tuesday.

“We are hoping to receive an answer, not a motion to dismiss,” he said in a statement.

Ortega made the statement as the 10-calendar-day non-extendible period the Senate impeachment court has given the Vice President to answer the charges, which ends on June 1, nears.

After that, the House prosecution panel is required to submit its comments within five calendar days, also non-extendible.

Ortega said a motion to dismiss or a pleading asking the Senate impeachment court to await the Supreme Court’s decision on pending impeachment-related issues would be a “dilatory tactic” by Duterte and her defense team.

“It will just be a waste of time. We do not think the Senate impeachment court, which has so far acted forthwith on the impeachment case, will allow it,” he said.

The House leader urged the Vice President to make good her promise to answer the charges against her during the Senate trial.

“She consistently refused to show up in the House impeachment proceedings. She waited for more than a year since last year’s impeachment process for her trial to take place and to present her answer. She should seize this opportunity so the people can finally hear from her,” Ortega said.

Among the impeachment charges against VP Duterte are her alleged unexplained wealth; failure to declare certain assets in her statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALNs); assassination threats she made against President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos and former Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez; graft and corruption and bribery of Department of Education officials; and misuse of public funds.

House prosecutors have asserted that they have solid evidence against the Vice President, including the report of the Anti-Money Laundering Council on her and her husband’s financial transactions since she was Davao City vice mayor up to 2024.