Representatives Arlene Brosas (Gabriela), France Castro (ACT Teachers), and Raoul Manuel during the 2024 State of the Nation Address. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. should not interfere in what the House intends to do in holding public officials like Vice President Sara Duterte accountable, lawmakers from the House of Representatives’ Makabayan bloc said on Friday.

In a joint statement, the three-person Makabayan bloc — ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro, Gabriela party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas, and Kabataan party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel — called out Marcos after the Chief Executive confirmed that he asked House leaders not to push through with the impeachment of Duterte.

Over the past few months, there have been talks that impeachment complaints would be filed against Duterte, for alleged fund use irregularities hounding her offices.  The calls grew stronger after Duterte threatened Marcos, but the President said an impeachment complaint would not help the country in any way.

“The President’s public pronouncements against impeachment proceedings represent undue executive interference in legislative affairs. Congress, as a co-equal branch of government, must maintain its independence and exercise its constitutional mandate without pressure from Malacañang,” Makabayan said.

“Nakakabahala ang lantarang pakikialam ng Pangulo sa mga proseso ng Kongreso. Hindi dapat idikta ng Malacañang kung paano gagawin ng Kongreso ang mandato nito para managot ang mga opisyal na may katiwalian,” they added.

(The obvious interference of the President on Congress’ processes is concerning.  Malacañang should not dictate how Congress enforces its mandate to hold accountable our officials accused of corruption.)

According to the Makabayan, the hearings in the House committee on good government and public accountability showed different irregularities in how the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd) utilized its budget, including its confidential funds (CFs).

These issues, the lawmakers said, should merit appropriate action.

“The findings from the House probe on confidential funds and other irregularities in both the Office of the Vice President and Department of Education warrant serious consideration. These issues demand thorough investigation and appropriate action from Congress,” Makabayan said.

“The House leadership must demonstrate its independence and take a firm stand based on evidence and public interest, not on the President’s preferences. Congress should not allow itself to become a rubber stamp of the executive branch,” it added.

Makabayan’s statement came after Marcos confirmed that he asked lawmakers not to proceed with an impeachment complaint against Duterte, as it is not important and would not do anything to improve people’s lives.

Marcos also admitted that a message circulating over social media making the same call against Duterte’s possible impeachment came from him, although he noted that it was supposed to be a private communication.

READ: Marcos says he ordered impeachment moves vs VP Sara Duterte stopped 

According to the Makabayan, progressive organizations aligned with them are preparing impeachment complaints against Duterte, as she should be made accountable over these issues.

“Sa parte naman ng mga progresibong organisasyon at Makabayan bloc, kami ay nakahanda at naghahanda para sa impeachment dahil iyon ang tinatawag ng sitwasyon at mamamayan. Kailangan managot si VP Duterte sa usapin ng confidential funds at iba pang anomalya sa OVP at DepEd. Usapin ito ng transparency and accountability, hindi ito ipinapakiusap o dinidikta,” they said.

(On the part of progressive organizations and the Makabayan bloc, we are ready and getting ready for the filing of an impeachment because that is what the people want, and what the situation merits.  VP Duterte should be made accountable on the discussion of confidential funds and other anomalies in OVP and DepEd. This is an issue of transparency and accountability, this should not be dictated.)

“We call on our fellow lawmakers to uphold Congress’s constitutional duty to serve as a check and balance against potential abuses and corruption in government.  Tungkulin nating siguruhin na walang opisyal ang nasa itaas ng batas. Kung may sapat na batayan para sa impeachment, dapat itong ipagpatuloy alinsunod sa ating Konstitusyon,” they added.

(It is our duty to ensure that no official is above the law.  If there is enough basis for an impeachment, it should continue according to our Constitution.)

Aside from the issues checked by the House panel, Duterte also stirred controversy last November 22 as it was revealed that after visiting Undersecretary Zuleika Lopez — her chief-of-staff who was detained at the House premises — she locked herself inside the office of her brother, Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte.

Due to the security problems that came with Duterte staying inside the Batasang Pambansa, the House committee decided to transfer Lopez to the Correctional Institute for Women.

After this, Duterte held a press briefing early Saturday morning, where she badmouthed Marcos, his wife First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, and House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.  The Vice President also claimed that she has already tasked someone to assassinate the three in case she gets killed.

READ: Sara Duterte’s kill remark vs Marcos is ‘active threat’ – Palace 

Duterte’s outbursts came after the House panel uncovered different issues, like OVP and DepEd’s special disbursing officers leaving the disbursement of CFs to security officers.  According to 1-Rider party-list Rep. Ramon Rodrigo Gutierrez, this can be tantamount to technical malversation.

READ: Solon: SDO’s move to give up fund release role may lead to malversation 

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Aside from thiscloudbet, the Commission on Audit previously handed out a notice of disallowance on P73.2 million of the OVP’s P125-million CF for 2022.

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