2nd impeachment vs Sara inihain sa Kamara

ni GERRY BALDO

INIHAIN sa Kamara de Representantes kahapon ang pangalawang impeachment complaint laban kay Bise Presidente Sara Duterte.

Ayon sa Makabayan coalition, na naghain ng reklamo ang isyu nila kay Duterte ay tungkol sa “betrayal of public trust” may kaugnayan sa paggastos ng  P612.5 milyong  “confidential funds” ng Office of the Vice President (OVP) at ng Department of Education (DepEd).

 Sa 45-pahinang dokumento, isinumite ng grupo ang reklamo kay House Secretary General Reginald Velasco.

Sa pangunguna ni Bayan chairman Teddy Casiño at dating Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares, tatlong isyu ang pinukol nila kaySara : “abuse, misuse and wastage of P612.5 million in confidential funds; systematic cover-up through fabricated accomplishment reports, receipts and documents submitted to the COA by the OVP and DepEd; at deliberate obstruction of congressional investigation and oversight.”

“We call on Congress to act swiftly on this impeachment complaint. The Filipino people, especially our taxpayers who bear the burden of funding government operations, deserve accountability from their second highest official,” ayon kay Casiño.

“The vice president’s brazen misuse of more than half a billion pesos in confidential funds, particularly the suspicious liquidation of P125 million in just 11 days at the end of 2022, represents a grave betrayal of public trust,” dagdag niya.

Paliwanag ni Casiño mismong ang Commission on Audit (COA) ay nagsabi na kuwestiyonable at taliwas sa batas at alituntunin sa paggamit ng “confidential funds” ang ginawa ng bise presidente.

Ani Casiño, ang maling paggamit ng “confidential funds” ay maituturing na “betrayal against the people.”

 Ayon kay Makabayan president Liza Maza “the systematic misuse and stealing of public funds is not a simple technical violation.”

 “The misuse of confidential funds is a big betrayal to the people,” ayon kay Maza.

Ayon namam kay Neri, na tumatayong legal counsel ng grupo, itinatago ni Sara ang katiwalian sa paggamit ng confidential funds.

“She continuously refused to attend and face the budget hearings and the investigation of the House of Representatives. This is contrary to the oath of vice president to be accountable public official,” saad ni Colmenares.

Umabot sa 75 indibiduwal ang nakapirma sa habla na inendoso nila ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro, Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas, at Kabataan Rep. Raoul Manuel.

“Ang paglustay ng confidential funds ay isang malaking pagtataksil sa taongbayan. Hindi lang ito simpleng technical violation kundi sistematikong paglulustay at pagnanakaw sa kaban ng bayan,” ani Makabayan President Liza Maza.

“Hindi dapat nilulustay ang pera ng taongbayan. Hindi dapat binababoy ang mga mekanismo ng accountability. The regime of fiscal impunity that has plagued the OVP since 2022 must end. VP Duterte must be held accountable through her removal from office and perpetual disqualification from holding public office,” dagdag ni Maza.

Hinimok din ni Colmenares ang Senado na agarang aksiyonan ang reklamo laban kay Sara.

“Nang mahuli ng Kamara ang anomalya, ginawa ni VP Duterte ang lahat para pagtakpan ang kanyang kasalanan at pigilan ang paghahanap ng katotohanan. Tumanggi siyang humarap sa budget hearings at mga imbestigasyon ng Kongreso. Taliwas ito sa sinumpaang tungkulin ng Vice-President na maging ísang accountable public official,” paliwanag ni Colmenares.

“Respondent Duterte betrayed public trust by her gross disregard of transparency and accountability, making a mockery of the audit process by ordering subordinates to prepare implausible accomplishment reports supported by fabricated liquidation reports and falsification.”

“The 1987 Constitution mandates that public officers and employees must at all times be accountable to the people, serve them with utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty, and efficiency, act with patriotism and justice, and lead modest lives,” saad sa reklamo.