Solon sees November conclusion of VP impeachment trial

Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido ‘Benny’ Abante (Courtesy: House of Representatives)

The impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte could be wrapped up by November, Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. said, adding that the prosecution has already presented enough evidence to warrant her conviction and removal from office.

Speaking at the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City, Abante said the evidence presented by the House prosecution team—particularly on the fourth Article of Impeachment (grave threats and inciting to sedition) —was already strong enough for the Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, to convict Duterte.

“I think that what the prosecution team has presented is enough to impeach the Vice President. The evidence on the grave threats charge is already enough. That is betrayal of public trust,” Abante said.

Article 4 charges Duterte with grave threats and inciting to sedition in connection with the assassination threats she made on Nov. 23, 2024 against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, and then House Speaker Martin G. Romualdez.

Abante said the prosecution does not necessarily have to go through all the impeachment charges to establish the case against the Vice President.

“I think the prosecution team can do that – make a motion to stop it because they have already done their part as far as exposing the violations done by the Vice President,” he said.

“I think that’s already being discussed—shortening it, that is. Personally, it shouldn’t be allowed to drag on until December,” he added.

The prosecution is currently presenting evidence on the alleged misuse of P612.5 million in confidential and intelligence funds released in 2022 and 2023 to the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education when Duterte was education secretary.

Of the amount, P500 million was released to the OVP while P112.5 million went to DepEd, with the Commission on Audit flagging more than P400 million as questionable and disallowing with finality P73 million that it ordered returned to the government.

House prosecutor Rep. Terry Ridon, for his part, reiterated his call for the Vice President to the impeachment trial as her obligation to the nation.

Ridon said the prosecution and the Filipino nation expect Duterte to attend the impeachment trial, just like the late former Chief Justice Renato Corona did in 2012.

“She isn’t required to attend, but if she truly feels righteous indignation regarding the proceedings against her, she should be there to look the prosecutors in the eye and say, ‘You are all liars; your case has no basis.’ Yet, she hasn’t done that,” he said.

“Our expectation—and the public’s expectation—is for the Vice President to show up at her hearings right to the very end,” he added. — Maricel Cruz & Joel E. Zurbano