Senate Archives Impeachment Articles: Lawmakers Decry Accountability Setback
MANILA, Philippines — Members of the House of Representatives have strongly criticized the Senate for archiving the impeachment articles against Vice President Sara Duterte. They argue this move undermines the pursuit of accountability for high-ranking officials.
In a statement released Wednesday, Akbayan party-list Rep. Percival Cendaña described the Senate’s 19-4 vote to archive the impeachment articles as a surrender of its independence. He further labeled the Senate as a “Duterte Senate,” claiming it has become a protector rather than a pursuer of justice.
“Nakakahiya ang desisyon ng Senado patungkol sa impeachment complaint laban sa Bise Presidente. They chose to surrender their independence and willfully abandon their constitutional mandate,” Cendaña said.
“Today, the Senate decided to become a Duterte Senate. Sa pagtalikod ng Senado sa kanyang tungkulin, nagsilbi itong tiga-kunsinte at tiga-kubli ng mga krimen ng Bise Presidente,” he added.
Calls to Await Supreme Court Decision
Akbayan Rep. Chel Diokno also weighed in, stating the Senate should have waited for the Supreme Court (SC) ruling on the impeachment before taking action. On July 25, SC spokesperson Camille Ting announced that the court unanimously found the impeachment articles unconstitutional, citing a violation of the one-year bar rule in the 1987 Constitution.
“It would have been more prudent for the Senate to wait for the ruling of the Supreme Court on the motion for reconsideration filed by the House of Representatives. Instead, the Senate hammered another nail on the coffin of accountability—anupamang itawag d’yan, to dismiss, archive, o sa salita ng isa mismong Senador, kill the Articles of Impeachment,” Diokno explained.
He reiterated the call for the Supreme Court to reconsider its decision, emphasizing that even top officials must be accountable for wrongdoing.
Makabayan Bloc Condemns Senate’s Move
ACT Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio and Kabataan party-list Rep. Renee Co, from the Makabayan bloc, condemned the Senate’s decision to archive the case. They viewed it as a disguised effort to kill the impeachment proceedings.
“We condemn in the strongest terms the Senate’s decision to ‘archive’ the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte. Archiving is nothing but a shameless attempt to kill the case while claiming they ‘never had jurisdiction’ in the first place. Kung hindi naman pala nila hawak, paano mo a-archive?” the Makabayan representatives questioned.
They added that this move spares the Senate from the optics of outright dismissal but ultimately denies the Filipino people accountability for the unexplained P612.5 million in confidential funds.
Background of the Impeachment Complaint
On February 5, Vice President Duterte was impeached after 215 members of the House of Representatives filed a fourth complaint. The complaint included allegations of misuse of confidential funds, threats against officials, and other possible constitutional violations.
Following constitutional mandates, the articles were transmitted to the Senate the same day, requiring that a trial commence once at least one-third of House members endorsed the complaint.
However, two petitions to halt the impeachment proceedings were filed with the Supreme Court. One came from Mindanao-based lawyers who argued that the House did not act within the required 10 session days. Duterte’s legal team, including her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, also filed a petition citing the one-impeachment-per-year rule.
Prosecutors Vow to Continue Fight for Justice
Despite the Senate’s decision, Manila Rep. Joel Chua, part of the prosecution team, stated that the fight for accountability is far from over. He described the current situation as an impasse rather than a defeat.
“We shall not be deterred in our quest for accountability. The Senate action today is not a checkmate. But the Senate denied due process to the Filipino people,” Chua said.
“We are merely at an impasse. This game is far from over. We still have strong moves to make in this high-stakes battle for justice and accountability,” he added.
Chua’s panel led investigations into irregularities involving the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and previously the Department of Education (DepEd). One striking finding was the presence of suspicious names signing acknowledgment receipts (ARs) for confidential expenses.
Questionable Documents and Names
Antipolo City Rep. Romeo Acop pointed out one name on ARs, Mary Grace Piattos, which resembled a restaurant and a potato chip brand. Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong revealed ARs signed by Kokoy Villamin with inconsistent handwriting. Neither individual appeared in the Philippine Statistics Authority database.
More odd names surfaced, including multiple “Fionas,” a “Magellan,” and a person named “Ewan,” a Filipino slang for “I don’t know.” La Union Rep. Paolo Ortega V shared lists with names resembling public officials, grocery items, and even a phone brand—Xiaome Ocho.
These bizarre findings were compiled in the fourth impeachment complaint against Duterte, highlighting concerns about the misuse of confidential funds.
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