TWO key leaders of the House Committee on Justice have denied the claim of Navotas Rep. Tobias Tiangco that members of the chamber were promised funding allocations in exchange for impeaching Vice President Sara Z. Duterte.
“Ano daw kapalit? Wala akong alam na kapalit,” Panel Chair Atty. Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro of Batangas said.
“I’ve been working on this, I feel the obligation to…be able to come up with an orderly proceeding, an organized proceeding, and of course a decision which will be acceptable to the people. A decision that can be justified based on the evidence presented,” Luistro said.
Luistro said she did not know what Tiangco was talking about.
I don’t know anything about what Cong is referring to. Toby Tiangco na kapalit ng aming nagiging judgment, decision or position with regard to this impeachment complaint. For me, of course I cannot speak for others, but for me, talagang I see this as my constitutional duty that I should be able to discharge,” Luistro said.
Manila Rep. Joel Chua, who has been participating actively in committee proceedings, made a similar denial.
“Unang una, hindi ko alam kung saan nanggagaling ‘yung allegation ni Cong.
Toby, but just the same…umuusad pa rin po itong impeachment complaint. So nakita naman po ninyo ‘yung botohan. “Congressmen will vote based on their conscience and the evidence,” Chua, a lawyer and Chair of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, said.
People who watched the televised proceedings witnessed evidence supporting everything the committee discussed.
He said issues raised against VP Duterte regarding the mishandling of P612.5 million in confidential and intelligence funds received by the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd) when she was education secretary have remained unanswered.
“Lahat naman po ng iprinisenta is backed by evidence at saksi naman dito ang taong bayan, marami naman po nakapanood. So ‘yung mga issue na hanggang ngayon na mga katanungan, sila ‘yung Mary Grace Piattos (alleged fund recipient), hanggang ngayon hindi pa rin mahanap kung nasaan,” Chua added.
Hanggang ngayon, hindi pa rin malaman kung nasaan ang P1-million safe house na nirentahan. ‘Yung testimonya po, ng mga AFP personnel na sinasabi nila were asked to certify that funds were downloaded to the youth summit, but in truth wala naman po talagang pondo na na-download,” he stressed.
Chua pointed out that the impeachment process is actually a forum for the vice president to clear her name ahead of the 2028 presidential elections, in which she has declared she would seek the presidency.
“Yung impeachment process, is a test of the character and conduct of a public official. Now, you are going to run come 2028. Hindi ba mas maganda, once you are acquitted, tatakbo ka na wala kang extra baggage? And this is actually the right opportunity for her to clear her name. Pag takbo niya at least kung ano mang mga ibato sa kaniya, malinis ang kanyang pangalan. Keysa ‘yung tumatakbo ka na meron kang mga issues na kagaya po nito,” Chua said.
