HOUSE Senior Deputy Majority Leader Lorenz Defensor of Iloilo on Wednesday maintained that Vice President Sara Duterte’s alleged admission that she had spoken to someone willing to kill President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. constitutes an impeachable offense and a clear betrayal of public trust.
The allegation — cited in several impeachment complaints now pending before the House — was the same ground Defensor invoked when he signed an impeachment complaint against the Vice President last year.
“The very reason why I signed the impeachment complaint last year was because walang bise-presidenteng nagsasabi na may kinausap na akong taong handang pumatay sa isang presidente,” Defensor said in an ambush interview.
“That will always be an impeachable offense and a betrayal of public trust,” he pointed out.
Asked directly whether Duterte should be impeached on that ground, Defensor replied: “On that ground, yes. Same ground.”
The Iloilo House leader stressed that the principle applies regardless of who occupies the presidency.
“Kung manalo si Vice President Sara Duterte bilang presidente at sinabihan siya ng kanyang bise presidente na may kinausap din ako na taong handang pumatay sa kanya, I will sign the impeachment complaint again kahit sinuman ’yan,” he said.
Defensor, who served as one of the House prosecutors in last year’s impeachment proceedings, said he would again fulfill his constitutional role if chosen.
“Kung pipiliin ako bilang prosecutor, I will always do my constitutional duty,” he said.
Still, he underscored that the current complaints must pass through the constitutional process before any vote in plenary.
“I can’t say. Right now I can’t say. All I can say is it will be referred to the Committee on Justice for deliberation, for determination of sufficiency in form and sufficiency in substance and that’s it for now,” he said when asked whether he would support the complaint if it reaches the floor.
Under Article XI, Section 3 of the Constitution, the House of Representatives has the exclusive power to initiate all cases of impeachment.
Once a verified complaint is filed and included in the Order of Business, it must be referred to the Committee on Justice to determine whether it is sufficient in form and substance.
Only after the committee finds the complaint sufficient and the required number of House members approve a resolution of impeachment can the Articles of Impeachment be transmitted to the Senate, which has the sole power to try and decide the case.
Defensor said the House will proceed in accordance with its constitutional mandate.
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