By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet

Ensuring that the wheels of justice continue to roll after a leadership shakeup and a Senate fiasco that rocked the previous week, the Senate convened as an impeachment court on Monday.

The event began with an opening prayer by Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, who expressed optimism in divine intervention as the guide that will seal the verdict of the chamber on Vice President Sara Duterte.

Acting Majority Leader Joel Villanueva said, ”With the permission of the body, the Articles of Impeachment have been referred to the Committee on Rules. May I respectfully move to refer the Articles of Impeachment to the impeachment court. I so move, Mr. President.”

Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano acknowledged Senator Villanueva’s request and struck the gavel against a sound block.

After suspending the session for a few minutes, Sen. Pres. Cayetano was sworn in as presiding officer and the senators took their respective oaths as senator judges.

He stressed that Senate Resolution No. 39, or the Rules of Procedure on impeachment trial, would continue to apply, including the supplementary application of the Rules of the Senate and the revised Rules of Court when applicable.

The leader of the 24-member institution then directed the Senate sergeant-at-arms to serve the written summons and a copy of the Articles of Impeachment to the country’s second-highest government official, giving Duterte’s camp 10 calendar days to respond to the Articles of Impeachment.

Articles of Impeachment in a nutshell

The Vice President faces a list of allegations, including the alleged misuse of confidential funds, graft and corruption, unexplained wealth, and threats lashed out against the First Couple and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

Article I outlines the misuse, misappropriation, and irregular liquidation of P612.5 million in confidential funds under the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd), which was flagged by the Commission on Audit (COA) and underwent thorough scrutiny from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

Article II bares the discrepancies in her Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) and continued business interests that prop up her declared net worth from P7.2 million in 2007 to P88.5 million in 2024, on top of AMLC’s financial records on Duterte and her spouse, Atty. Manases Carpio.

Further, Article III cites allegations of bribery and cash payments to DepEd officials, which include cash envelopes reportedly received by Gloria Jumamil-Mercado, Resty Osias, and Runna Catalan.

Lastly, Article IV cites her November 2024 video press conference, where she badmouthed the Marcoses and even said she had contracted an assassin to harm the First Couple and the former House Speaker, as evidence for grave threats and inciting to sedition. (with report from Bernard Ferrer | PTV News)

jpv