Duterte to shut down Congress if threatened with impeachment | ABS-CBN

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Duterte to shut down Congress if threatened with impeachment

Duterte to shut down Congress if threatened with impeachment

Doris Bigornia,

ABS-CBN News

 | 

Updated Apr 29, 2016 12:56 PM PHT

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MANILA - Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte on Friday warned that he will close down Congress if he would face impeachment attempts as president.

Vice presidential candidate Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, who alleged that Duterte has bank transactions amounting to P2.407 billion, has vowed to impeach the mayor right away if he wins in the May 9 presidential elections.

Speaking to reporters at his campaign rally in Olongapo City, Pampanga, Duterte denied hiding any ill-gotten wealth, reiterating that two of his bank accounts only hold P50,000 and P17,000 each.

He added that he will leave Trillanes with no avenue to unseat him from Malacañang.

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"P*****, impeach mo ako dahil sa P17,000? Kalokohan, ipasara ko na lang ang Congress," he said.

Asked what he'd do if Trillanes wins as his vice president, he said: "Paalisin ko na lang siya sa tabi."

"Doon na lang siya sa mga kabarkada niya sa PMA (Philippine Military Acedemy). Doon siya magaling sa mga kudeta," he added, referring to the 2003 Oakwood Mutiny led by Trillanes.

Trillanes on Wednesday alleged that Duterte was keeping P211 million in a joint account with his daughter, Sara, at the BPI branch on Julia Vargas Avenue in Pasig City.

Duterte's spokesperson, Peter Laviña, denied the existence of the BPI account.

Journalist Ellen Tordesillas, however, posted on her Facebook account a photo of a deposit slip which proves that a joint account of Duterte and his daughter at BPI exists.

After the proof surfaced on social media, Duterte admitted that the account at the BPI branch on Julia Vargas does exist, but he insisted that it does not contain P211 million.

In a recent development, Trillanes claimed Friday that Duterte's accounts in BPI Julia Vargas and two other banks received P2.407 billion in total deposits, from 2006 to 2015.

Duterte told his supporters not to believe Trillanes, whom he dubbed as a "mercenary".

The PDP-Laban bet also said that he if he truly amassed hidden wealth, then he would not have run for the presidency but could have used this money to enjoy a comfortable retirement.

PERJURY

Duterte also warned that he would take necessary actions against Trillanes if the latter executes an affidavit stating that he has records of that account, and the manner and purpose with which the documents were obtained.

The tough-talking mayor said Trillanes can be charged with perjury if he cannot prove that undeclared wealth was indeed funneled into Duterte's alleged accounts.

He added that the senator's expose is illegal and violates the Bank Secrecy Law.

Trillanes and several presidential candidates earlier urged Duterte to sign a waiver allowing full disclosure of his bank accounts.

NPA TIES, REVOLUTIONARY GOV'T

Duterte also confirmed that he is in talks with Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder Jose Maria Sison to discuss initial plans for inclusive governance if he is elected as president.

Duterte said Congress will determine the parameters of such an agreement, but everyone will be included in the discussions, especially the Armed Forces.

Duterte also clarified an earlier statement that he would establish a revolutionary government, saying he only meant instituting reforms in government agencies, particularly the bureaus of Customs and Internal Revenue.

SORTIE BRAWL

Meanwhile, a slight scuffle also ensued between former Zambales Governor Vic Magsaysay and local security manning the stage of Duterte's Olangapo sortie.

Magsasay was reportedly denied access to the stage where Duterte was delivering his speech.

Piqued, Magsaysay allegedly hit the security men several times.

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Pimentel urges Escudero to start Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial immediately

Pimentel urges Escudero to start Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial immediately

RG Cruz,

ABS-CBN News

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Vice President Sara Duterte holds a press conference with the media at the Office of the Vice President in Mandaluyong City on February 7, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News 


MANILA — Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III has urged Senate President Francis Escudero to start the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte without delay.

In a letter to Escudero, Pimentel noted that under the Constitution, the Senate is mandated to “forthwith proceed” with an impeachment trial once a verified complaint or resolution of impeachment is filed by at least one-third of all the members of the House of Representatives.

"The Filipino translation for ‘forthwith’ is ‘agad’ which conveys immediacy. The synonyms of this Filipino word include ‘madali,’ ‘bigla,’ ‘dagli,’ or ‘karakaraka’ which denote urgency or promptness. The above elaboration affirms that it is the Senate’s duty to act on the impeachment case of Vice President Sara Duterte ‘without any delay’ or ‘without interval of time,’” Pimentel said.

“I repeat that this is the Senate’s DUTY. Given the gravity of impeachment proceedings, it is imperative that the Senate uphold its duty with urgency, diligence, and a steadfast commitment to the Constitution. I appreciate your prompt attention to this matter and look forward to your response,” he added.

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Pimentel also pointed to the official Filipino translation of the provision: “Kung ang pinanumpaang sakdal o resolusyon sa impeachment ay iniharap ng isang-katlo man lamang ng lahat ng mga Kagawad ng Kapulungan, iyon ay dapat bumuo sa Articles of Impeachment, at dapat isunod AGAD ang paglilitis ng Senado.” 

Duterte was impeached by the House of Representatives last week on charges of "violation of the constitution, betrayal of public trust, graft and corruption, and other high crimes".

Accusations spelled out in the 44-page document include an alleged plot to assassinate President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Marcos and House Speaker Martin Romualdez, a Marcos cousin.

Last week, the Vice President once again said comments taken from an expletive-filled speech where she claimed herself to be the subject of a plot had been taken out of context.

Sixteen votes in the 24-seat Senate are now needed to deliver a conviction that would bar Duterte from public office, including a presidential run she says she is "seriously considering".

Escudero has said Duterte's trial will probably not begin until after May's mid-term elections -- or finish before the next congress takes over in July.

— With a report from Agence France-Presse 

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