Impeachment crucial for holding VP Sara over alleged OVP funds misuse, says lawmaker

March 30, 2025 , 09:44 PM

By Rodolfo Dacleson II

(March 30, 2025) – Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas stressed the importance of impeachment as a mechanism for accountability amid the impending trial of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte-Carpio.

She asserted impeachment is a “political exercise” to hold public officials accountable and give justice to the Filipinos.

“‘Yung impeachment itself, political exercise ‘yun. At kailangan natin ‘yun kasi pagpapanagot ‘yun sa mga impeachable officials. Hindi magalaw-galaw kahit na nagkakaroon na sila ng mga kasalanan paglulustay ng pera ng taumbayan,” said Brosas, who’s running for senator in the 2025 midterm elections, on One Network Media Group’s “Aplikante.”

Noting this, she questioned the delay in the impeachment proceedings against Duterte-Carpio, who has been accused of misuse of confidential funds worth nearly P613-million of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd), which she previously headed.

“Ang presidente (Bongbong Marcos Jr.), hindi siya nagpapatawag ng special session. ‘Yun ‘yung problema. Kailangan umusad siya (impeachment) kasi matter of justice ito. Hustisya para sa Filipino people. Malaman ‘yung katotohanan kung saan ginamit ‘yung taxes na binigay natin,” added Brosas.

Section 15 of Article VI of the 1987 Constitution states that a president can summon Congress into a special session even when it is in recess for urgent matters, including national emergencies, budgetary concerns, or legislative priorities.

It, however, is not typically used for impeachment trials since the Senate has the sole power to try and decide this matter, according to Section 3 of Article XI of the 1987 Constitution.

Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero maintained that the upper chamber would only proceed with Duterte-Carpio’s impeachment if Marcos called for a special session.

He maintained that while the House of Representatives must immediately transmit the impeachment complaint to the Senate, the latter has no obligations to convene swiftly, announcing the trial will begin in July.

“Kahit naman anong sabihin niya (Escudero), it’s a constitutional mandate. Ang mga tao nakatingin naman at ang usapin d’yan kung kailan sisimulan,” said Brosas. “Hindi siya (impeachment) katulad ng the usual na legislative meal na magsisimula ka sa simula. Dito, kailangan magtuloy-tuloy siya.”

Last month, the lawmakers in the lower chamber ousted Duterte-Carpio for her alleged irregular spending of confidential funds, among seven constitutional violations.

The embattled Vice President has repeatedly said that she will not comment on the confidential funds’ allegations, saying it may compromise “national security.”

(AAD)

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