Leader Marcelino Libanan
TACLOBAN CITY — House Minority Floor Leader Marcelino Libanan defended the House of Representatives’ continued deliberations on the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte, saying lawmakers are obligated to follow the constitutional process regardless of rising fuel prices linked to tensions in the Middle East.
In an interview on Tuesday, March 10, Libanan said Congress cannot simply ignore an impeachment complaint once it has been formally filed and referred to the House Committee on Justice.
“Impeachment is a constitutional process provided under our Constitution. We cannot question those who filed or endorsed it,” Libanan said.
He explained that the House is required to act on such complaints once they are lodged and transmitted to the justice committee for deliberation.
“We have to act on it, like what the Committee on Justice is doing. We cannot simply ignore it,” he said.
Libanan also noted that even the impeachment complaint previously filed against Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was taken up by the committee before it was eventually dismissed for lack of sufficient evidence.
According to the lawmaker, the impeachment proceedings against Duterte only happened to coincide with escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East that have contributed to higher global oil prices.
“This just happened coinciding with the Middle East issue,” he said. “If we fail to act on an impeachment complaint and simply keep silent, we could be held liable. That would be a culpable violation of the Constitution.”
“This is simply part of our job. Trabaho lang,” Libanan added.
Congress has drawn criticism—particularly from Duterte’s supporters—who questioned why lawmakers continue to tackle the impeachment complaints while the country is dealing with economic concerns, including rising fuel costs linked to the Middle East situation.
Earlier, the House Committee on Justice voted to allow the impeachment complaints against Duterte to move forward after finding them sufficient in form and substance. The Vice President has been given 10 days to respond to the allegations.
If the committee later determines that there is probable cause, the complaints will be elevated to the House of Representatives of the Philippines for a vote. If the chamber approves the articles of impeachment, the case will be transmitted to the Senate of the Philippines for trial.
If convicted in an impeachment trial, Duterte could be removed from office and barred from holding any future public position.
The Vice President earlier announced her intention to run for president in the 2028 national elections.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)
