Détente

And the die is cast. An impeachment complaint was filed against Vice President Sara Duterte at the House of Representatives last Monday. The complainants listed down a litany of sins in the Articles of Impeachment formally submitted to the office of the secretary-general of the House of Representatives.

Aside from acts she did as the second highest elected leader at the Office of the Vice President (OVP), they also accused her of offenses she allegedly committed while she was concurrently the secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd) until July this year.

The impeachment case against VP Sara finally came, notwithstanding supposed “guidance” coming from no less than President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. (PBBM). In a message supposedly sent through SMS (short message service) to key leaders of the 19th Congress last week, PBBM confirmed that indeed he had given such guidance.

The SMS read: “In the larger scheme of things, Sara is unimportant. So please do not file impeachment complaints. It will only distract us from the real work of governance whic(h) is to improve the lot of all Filipinos.” Apparently, PBBM’s SMS was shared wittingly – or perhaps unwittingly – by the recipient because it went viral on social media last Friday.

If the President’s SMS was sent through a group chat, everyone would be a suspect in sharing PBBM’s private message. Or this was really intended to come out? In fact, the Chief Executive expressed surprise his SMS became public knowledge. PBBM appeared to have been forced to admit it. Or it is too obviously contrived? If not contrived, isn’t this a violation of the President’s privacy? Worse, a breach of national security involving the President’s official communications and messages in whatever format or platform.

Because this was a departure from PBBM’s sentiments just a week ago after VP Sara publicly declared that she has asked someone “to kill” the President, his wife First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez. Apparently, PBBM no longer finds laughable VP Sara’s latest antics and tirades. In a pre-taped video message, a stern-faced PBBM vowed to fight off the self-declared threat of VP Sara to be carried out should she die suddenly.

It all started after OVP chief of staff Zuleika Lopez was cited for contempt for allegedly “lying” at the House hearing on alleged mis-use of P625 million of confidential funds in 2023. But while under detention at the House, Lopez was suddenly being transferred to the Women’s Corrections in Mandaluyong City. It was then all hell broke loose, when VP Sara’s unhinged public outbursts fired off cusses and bile at her targeted foes. Anger-driven VP Sara took to the next level all accusations as nothing but all character assassinations and political persecutions.

VP Sara asserted she has reached “the point of no return” when media several days later asked about possible reconciliation talks with PBBM. Sought for his sentiments on VP Sara’s closing the door for reconciliation, PBBM enigmatically retorted: “Never say never.”

Thus, the confirmation of PBBM against impeach moves at the House was a big turnaround.

As leaders and members of Congress conceded, impeachment is just another political process. It is reduced to a numbers game. The rules and requirements on how an impeachable official can be removed from office requires two-thirds votes of the 24-man Senate, acting as the impeachment court.

But the whole process starts at the House of Representatives. The first step in the procedure of the impeachment was this complaint against VP Sara received by the House. Then, this will be referred by the Speaker to the House committee on justice within ten days from the filing.

The impeachment complaint needs the signature of one-third, or more than 103 of the total 312 lawmakers, for it to get past the House committee on justice and go directly to the plenary.

However, if the threshold is not reached, then this will be forwarded to the House justice committee where its chairman, Rep. Juliet Ferrer, and panel members will decide whether the suit is sufficient in form and in substance before its merits are taken up in several deliberations. Once the House panel endorses this to plenary, congressmen will cast their votes whether they will elevate the impeach complaint to the Senate.

Ignoring PBBM’s change of mind, known “yellow” group filed the impeach case versus VP Sara, endorsed by Akbayan Party-list Rep. Perci Cendaña, who labeled their move as a critical step in the fight for truth and justice. “We cannot allow public office to be weaponized for corruption, violence and betrayal of trust,” Cendaña cited.

At a glance, the names of the 17 signatory-complainants more or less can be likened to the so-called usual suspects because they figured in similar impeachment-related activities in the past. They included former peace adviser Teresita Quintos Deles, “running priest” Fr. Robert Reyes, former Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano, singer/activist Leah Navarro and arch Duterte critic, former senator Leila de Lima.

The new names include the likes of human rights advocates Francis Aquino Dee, nephew of the late president Benigno Simeon “PNoy” Aquino III. Incidentally, it was the PNoy administration that was able to complete the entire impeachment process that led to the ouster of the then sitting chief justice, the late Renato Corona. Both De Lima and Deles were former PNoy Cabinet members.

The so-called Makabayan bloc at the Lower House, which VP Sara accused as minions of the Speaker, are set to file today their own separate impeachment complaint. They consist of the party-list groups from Kabataan, Gabriela and the Alliance of Concerned Teachers, all of whom crossed swords earlier with VP Sara and her father in separate House public hearings.

Both chambers of the 19th Congress have just nine session days left before they adjourn for their Christmas break on Dec.18. PBBM has spoken that he wants them to prioritize pending bills of national importance than be unnecessarily distracted by impeachment activities.

So far, the feisty VP Sara has simmered down but vowed she “will not break.” For now, let’s relish the détente.