Bayan calls for ‘heroic act’ of impeaching VP
Credit to Author: Jose Rodel Clapano| Date: Wed, 5 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0800
MANILA, Philippines — The current Congress will be remembered fondly if it does the “heroic act” of impeaching Vice President Sara Duterte, the militant Bagong Alyansang Makabayan said yesterday as it called for a vigil by members and supporters today outside the Batasan Pambansa complex to convince lawmakers to act fast.
“We are calling on Congress: make the heroic act of pushing accountability. Impeach now,” Bayan president Renato Reyes said yesterday as he called on supporters of Duterte’s impeachment to gather for a vigil today in front of the South gate of the Batasan Pambansa, which houses the House of Representatives.
“The different complainants in the impeachment against Vice President Duterte will hold a vigil starting at 4 p.m. at the House of Representatives’ South Gate to guard the last hours of session days before Congress went into a break,” Reyes said.
“It’s the last two minutes of the session before the break. They should not dribble the impeachment anymore. What is needed is to fast break the articles of impeachment to the Senate,” Reyes added.
“This is the request of the people. Two months of waiting is too much. There is a need for an impeachment trial involving the anomalous P612-million confidential funds of the OVP (Office of the Vice President) and DepEd (Department of Education),” he pointed out.
Reyes urged President Marcos not to block the impeachment complaints and just allow Congress to do its constitutional duty of initiating impeachment proceedings.
“We are calling on the public to guard what will transpire in the House of Representatives tomorrow (today) and be ready for whatever will be the result in the impeachment proceedings,” Reyes said.
“You can come to Batasan Pambasa and bring food and water for the vigil. Whatever will be the result tomorrow (today), the fight will continue to achieve justice against corruption,” he added.
Former Bayan Muna congressman Teddy Casiño said impeaching Duterte is an “opportunity to define the legacy of the 19th Congress.”
He cited glaring evidence of Duterte’s misuse of funds as well as her plain incompetence in performing her official tasks.
“Likewise, her behavior in intruding and blocking accountability remains a slap in the face of accountability,” Casiño said.
He said failure to impeach Duterte will only perpetuate a cycle that allows the highest officials of the land to misuse public resources for vested interests without accountability.
“It is Congress’ chance to do what is right. If the members of the 19th Congress want to be engraved history as a respected institution, it is just right for them to act on this impeachment based on their scrutiny to hold VP Duterte accountable,” Casiño said.