Will Impeachment Efforts Against Sara Duterte Backfire
Can Impeachment Efforts Against VP Sara Duterte Backfire?
MANILA, Philippines – Legal experts are weighing in on the potential success of impeachment complaints against Vice President sara Duterte, with some suggesting the move could ultimately benefit her politically.
Antonio Soriano, a lawyer and former Cagayan de Oro vice mayor, believes the impeachment bid may not succeed unless proponents can definitively prove Duterte’s culpability in the alleged misconduct.Soriano, who convenes the Citizens’ Watch for Good Governance, made these remarks during a recent rappler Talk episode titled “Can the Sara Duterte Impeachment Gambit Succeed?”
He specifically highlighted the controversy surrounding Duterte’s alleged threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., arguing that intent must be proven before such statements can be used as grounds for impeachment.
“It is not [a ground for impeachment] because ‘culpable,’ meaning to say, there was really that intent. It has to be proven,” soriano stated.
Duterte’s controversial statement, made during a Zoom meeting on November 23, claimed she had arranged for an assassin to target the president, first Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, and Speaker Martin Romualdez if an alleged plot to kill her were ever initiated.
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While many of Duterte’s allies have defended her statement as taken out of context, soriano, who identifies as a supporter of the vice president, described it as “irresponsible and uncalled for.” He believes such rhetoric could be used against her in a regular court, but not necessarily in an impeachment court.
Soriano considers it “fortunate” that the Department of Justice (DOJ) is reviewing findings from House committee hearings to prepare for potential criminal cases against Duterte.
The National Bureau of Examination (NBI) served Duterte a subpoena on November 26, requiring her appearance on November 29 in connection with its probe into alleged grave threats and possible violations of the Anti-Terror Law. Duterte did not appear, citing short notice and claiming she was informed too late about the postponement of a house hearing on allegations of fund misuse, originally scheduled for the same day. Her rescheduled NBI appearance is expected soon.
The ongoing legal battles and impeachment threats raise questions about the potential political ramifications for Vice President Duterte. While some believe the impeachment bid could ultimately strengthen her position,others remain skeptical about its chances of success.
Duterte Faces Impeachment: Legal Expert Calls Complaints a ‘Shotgun approach’
Manila, Philippines – Vice President sara Duterte is facing two impeachment complaints filed just days apart, sparking debate about the validity of the charges and the potential political ramifications. Legal experts, though, are questioning the strategy behind the complaints, calling them a “shotgun approach” that may ultimately benefit Duterte.
The first complaint, filed on December 2nd, accuses Duterte of graft and corruption, bribery, betrayal of public trust, and even threatening the President. A second complaint, filed on December 4th, focuses on alleged misuse of confidential funds, skipping budget deliberations, and evading questions about her office’s spending.
“Shotgun Approach” or Solid Case?
Constitutional law expert, [Insert Name Here], told Rappler that the broad range of accusations in the complaints raises concerns. “You can only be impeached if you’re an impeachable officer,” he explained. “Since a mayor of a city is not part of the impeachable officers,that should not be included.”
He also questioned the inclusion of alleged misuse of confidential funds,arguing that such details are not publicly disclosable. While bank records could potentially serve as evidence, Soriano emphasized that a court order would be necessary to compel banks to release such details.
Soriano further highlighted that even if the Commission on Audit (COA) identifies discrepancies in Duterte’s financial reports, she would still be entitled to due process, including the possibility to correct any errors.
“What they are doing is they are making this [shotgun] approach,” Soriano said. “They’re throwing out a lot of pellets, hoping against hope that one of the pellets will probably hit the mark.”
Political Implications and Timeline
Soriano believes that at least 16 votes from senators would be needed to convict Duterte in an impeachment trial, and the current Senate composition likely favors her.
The holiday season and breaks in February due to the 2025 election campaign period could also lead to delays in processing the complaints. However, soriano suggests that this delay might work to the advantage of the congressmen behind the impeachment move, as they anticipate Duterte’s allies, especially those from the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), losing seats in the upcoming elections.
Despite the potential delays and political maneuvering, Soriano believes the impeachment attempt could ultimately benefit Duterte herself. It could even boost her chances of winning the presidency in 2028.
Can Impeachment Efforts Against VP Sara Duterte Backfire?
Manila,Philippines – the recent impeachment complaints filed against vice President Sara Duterte have ignited a fiery debate amongst legal experts,with some speculating that the move coudl ultimately strengthen her political standing.
In an exclusive interview with NewsDirectory3.com, Antonio Soriano, a lawyer and former Cagayan de Oro vice mayor, expressed skepticism regarding the success of the impeachment bid, emphasizing the need for concrete evidence of Duterte’s culpability in the alleged misconduct.
Soriano,who leads the Citizens’ Watch for Good Governance, made his remarks during a recent Rappler Talk episode titled “Can the Sara Duterte Impeachment Gambit succeed?”. He specifically addressed the controversy surrounding duterte’s alleged threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., asserting that intent must be demonstrably proven before such statements can serve as grounds for impeachment.
“It is indeed not [a ground for impeachment] as ‘culpable,’ meaning to say, there was really that intent. It has to be proven,” Soriano stated emphatically.
The controversy stems from a Zoom meeting on November 23rd where Duterte claimed to have arranged for an assassin to target President Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, and Speaker Martin Romualdez should an alleged plot to kill her materialize. While many of Duterte’s allies have defended her statement as taken out of context, the impeachment complaints allege that her words constitute a threat to national security and constitute impeachable offenses.
Soriano’s perspective: A Backfire Effect?
soriano suggests that, despite the seriousness of the allegations, the impeachment efforts could backfire on Duterte’s opponents. He believes that portraying her as a victim of politically motivated attacks could rally her supporters and strengthen her public image.
“this could be seen as an attempt to silence a powerful voice who dares to challenge the status quo,” Soriano explained.”It might ultimately galvanize her base and present her as a martyr for their cause.”
A High-Stakes Political Gamble
The impeachment bid against Vice President Sara Duterte represents a significant gamble for her political opponents. While they seek to hold her accountable for her controversial statements, they risk inadvertently bolstering her political standing and painting themselves as aggressors in a highly charged political climate.
The coming weeks and months will be crucial in determining the fate of the impeachment complaints and the impact on Vice President Duterte’s political future.
You can watch the full interview with antonio Soriano on Rappler Talk at [LINK TO RAPPPLER TALK VIDEO].