Senator Lito Lapid Addresses Impeachment Complaint Against Vice President
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Lito Lapid voted to archive the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte but emphasized the importance of her responding to all accusations raised in the House of Representatives. His clear stance shows respect for judicial processes while valuing transparency.
During Wednesday’s session, Lapid cast his “yes” vote on the motion to archive the case, stating succinctly in Filipino, “Mr. President, I respect and honor the Supreme Court. My vote is yes,” addressing Senate President Francis Escudero directly.
Clarifying His Vote on the Impeachment Complaint
Later, Lapid’s office released a more detailed explanation. He clarified that archiving the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte does not imply guilt or innocence. Instead, he believes it is better for her to be heard and allowed to explain her side concerning the allegations made by the House of Representatives.
The complaint involves allegations of misusing multi-million peso confidential funds linked to her office and the Department of Education, which she also headed concurrently. This issue formed part of a verified impeachment complaint supported by 215 House lawmakers and transmitted to the Senate for trial on February 5.
Senate and Supreme Court Actions on the Complaint
The Senate convened as an impeachment court on June 10 and promptly issued summons to the involved parties. However, just before the 20th Congress opened on July 28, the Supreme Court declared the complaint unconstitutional, citing a violation of the one-year ban on filing impeachment cases.
Currently, the House has filed a motion for reconsideration before the Supreme Court. Lapid stated that if the court grants the motion, the Senate is ready to resume proceedings against the Vice President.
He added that debating the continuation of the trial right now would disregard the Supreme Court’s ruling. “Any debate on continuing the trial is pointless at this time, as it would mean violating the Supreme Court’s ruling,” Lapid stressed.
Call for Unity Amid Political Tensions
In closing, Senator Lapid appealed for peace and unity among Filipinos to focus on the urgent issues facing the country. His remarks underscore the need to rise above political disputes to address the pressing challenges affecting the Filipino people.
For more news and updates on impeachment complaint against Vice President, visit Filipinokami.com.
