MANILA – A lawsuit was filed Monday against Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte, who is facing a legal storm over her death threats against the President and her alleged role in extrajudicial killings of drug suspects, corruption and impeachment. Chinese aggression in the disputed South China Sea.
The impeachment petition filed by several prominent civil society activists in the House of Representatives accuses Duterte of violating the country's Constitution, betrayal of public trust and other “high crimes,” including death threats he made to the President, his wife and the speaker of the country. the House of Representatives.
Duterte did not immediately issue a response to the request for a trial, accusing him of nearly a dozen crimes he is accused of.
“We hope that with this appeal, we can put an end to the misery brought by the Vice President to the people,” said Rep. Percival Cendana, who granted the necessary approval of the appeal.
The threats against the Vice President showed “the level of the defendant's mental retardation, his depravity and his lack of mental fortitude to continue to hold the high office of the Vice President of the Philippines,” said a copy of the complaint seen by the Associated Press. “The same not only causes betrayal of public trust but also a high crime that will prove that he should be removed from office immediately.”
Duterte, a 46-year-old lawyer, is also accused of having mysterious wealth and allowing the continuation of the murder of drug suspects started by his father, who was the mayor of southern Davao City, during his tenure. that position in the past.
The Vice President's legal problems have emerged after a bitter political rivalry with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his supporters. He said in a press conference on November 23 that he has a contract with an assassin to kill Marcos, his wife and Speaker Martin Romualdez if he is killed, the threat he warned was not a joke.
Later, he said he was not threatening her but was expressing concern for her safety.
The impeachment appeal will be considered by the Philippine Congress, which is run by Marcos' allies and his cousin and key supporter, Romualdez, who has also been at political odds with the Vice President.
The process may take weeks or months. Congress will begin its Christmas recess on Dec. 20 and resume on Jan. 13. Many legislators will begin campaigning for re-election before the May 12 midterm elections.
The House was investigating the misappropriation of 612.5 million pesos ($10.3 million) of secret and intelligence funds received by Duterte's offices as Vice President and Education secretary. He left the academic position.
He refused to answer questions in detail in heated television interviews. Duterte also protested when his boss, Zuleika Lopez, was ordered to be temporarily detained for allegedly obstructing the investigation. Lopez was released from custody.
Philippine police have filed criminal complaints against Duterte and his security personnel for allegedly assaulting authorities and disobeying orders during a debate in Congress over Lopez's arrest.
Duterte has accused Marcos, his wife and Romualdez of corruption, weak leadership and trying to silence him due to speculation that he may seek the presidency in 2028.
Read more: What You Need to Know About the Dutertes' Pursuit of Power in the Philippines
The National Bureau of Investigation has summoned Duterte to face investigators regarding his threats against them.
The police, the military and the national security adviser quickly stepped up security for the Marcoses after the threats.
The President said the impeachment of Duterte will waste time while the country is facing other challenges, but his opponents say they will continue to promote accountability and the rule of law.
Marcos and Duterte won a landslide victory as running mates in the 2022 elections but have since clashed over major differences. The two offices are elected separately in the Philippines, which has led to rivalries entering high political positions.
Marcos and Duterte differ on how they view China's territorial claims in the South China Sea and their views on the deadly anti-drug campaign carried out by Duterte's father, Rodrigo Duterte, a former President who was also the mayor of Davao.
Plaintiffs at the sentencing, including military officials from a group called Magdalo, accused him of refusing to condemn China's brutal actions against Philippine troops in the South China Sea. The plaintiffs did not name China.
Brutal drug raids have left thousands of impoverished suspects dead in police killings being investigated by the International Criminal Court as a possible crime against humanity.
The trial complaint revealed a key witness in the killing, former police officer Arturo Lascanas, who said that Sara Duterte allowed the killing of drug suspects to continue in Davao City during her tenure as mayor. The elimination of drugs was started by his father when he was mayor.
– Associated Press reporters Aaron Favila and Joel Calupitan contributed to this report.
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