‘Sara could face impeachment over fund misuse’

MANILA, Philippines — There are grounds to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte, citing her alleged misuse of funds, the chairman of the House of Representatives committee on good government and public accountability said yesterday.

In a virtual interview, Manila 3rd District Rep. Joel Chua told reporters that he sees two possible grounds for impeachment: the rental of safe houses for P16 million, which he believes is exorbitant and could not be explained by Duterte, and the use of some P15 million in confidential funds for the conduct of the Department of Education (DepEd)’s Youth Leadership Summits (YLS) when she was still education secretary.

The DepEd had secured certifications from officials of the Philippine Army that the anti-insurgency summits took place, but they did not know that the certification would be used to justify the disbursement of the secret funds.

At a hearing of the committee, the Army confirmed that they did not have any role in the YLS and that the confidential funds were not downloaded to them.

“In these two instances, unless of course they can prove that the use of the funds is justified, but as we see it, they really have liability,” Chua said.

The lawmaker added that these two instances are grounds for impeachment “because obviously, there was a betrayal of public trust and there is (violation) of anti-graft.”

Asked if the impeachment case against Duterte would get the support of the other House members, Chua admitted that they are not yet certain about this and pointed out that Congress is still on recess.

“So by next week, when the session resumes, it is when we would know the sentiments of the other members of the Congress... But I am not saying that (impeachment) is what we will do when Congress resumes,” he added.

With regard to the pronouncement of Senior Deputy Speaker and Pampanga 3rd District Rep. Aurelio Gonzales that a plunder case can be filed against the Vice President, Chua stressed that this would come later.

Chua said Duterte could not yet be charged with plunder because she is a “sitting” Vice President.

“For now, because she is sitting, we cannot file a case directly against her. We have to impeach her first, and then after the impeachment, that’s the time that cases can be filed against her,” Chua added.