Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 16) — Vice President Leni Robredo on Tuesday expressed hope that government institutions do not disregard complaints against President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration.
“Isa naman tayong sovereign na bansa kaya mahalaga din na ipakita ng ating institusyon na hindi niya isinasantabi iyong mga reklamo ng sambayanan para hindi kinakailangan ng maghahanap ng recourse sa iba,” Robredo said when asked to comment the failed bid to impeach President Duterte.
[Translation: We are a sovereign nation, that’s why it’s important for our institution to show that the people’s complaints are not ignored, so they don’t seek recourse from others.]
The House Committee on Justice on Monday junked an impeachment complaint against President Duterte filed by Magdalo party list Representative Gary Alejano.
Alejano filed the complaint in March 2017 based on claims of alleged extrajudicial killings, corruption, and other illegal acts supposedly committed by Duterte both as President and as then-Mayor of Davao City.
Following Monday’s junking of the impeachment bid, Alejano expressed dismay that Duterte had managed to “sow fear” among members of Congress, thus any complaints against him would not prosper.
READ: Fear of Duterte blocks impeach tries – Alejano
Alejano then said he was considering bringing up Duterte’s actions over the alleged extrajudicial killings to the International Criminal Court in the Hague.
Robredo said she could not stop Alejano, but she remained hopeful that complaints against the President could be resolved by the country’s institutions since the ICC was the court of last resort.
“Tingin ko hindi natin mahihinto kahit sino na gusto mag-avail ng mga prosesong available. Pero siyempre sa atin, bilang bansa, mas gusto natin na ni-reresolve natin iyong mga problema on our own,” Robredo said following the launch of the Balara Elementary School’s Brigada Eskwela 2017 initiative in Quezon City.
[Translation: I think I could not stop anyone who wants to avail the available proceedings. However, for our country, it would be better if we resolve these problems on our own.]
“Hindi ko alam kung mag-po-prosper pero iyong alam ko isa sa mga requirements sa ICC parang sana siya iyong last recourse,” she added.
[Translation: I don’t know if the case will prosper, but I know one of the requirements of ICC is that it should be the last recourse.]
A document known as a “communication” was filed before the ICC on April 24 by Jude Sabio, lawyer of confessed hitman Edgar Matobato, charging Duterte with crimes against humanity for the death of 1,400 people in the hands the so-called Davao Death Squad (DDS) under then-Mayor Duterte.
Alejano said he is considering filing a second, separate “communication” with the ICC.
Meanwhile, a similar impeachment complaint filed by the vice president’s critics against Robredo is still pending and awaiting endorsement from the House of Representatives.
Robredo, addressing the complaint, said her camp has still not seen any basis for the accusations.
“Hindi nabigyan ng pagkakataon na maipahayag iyong, hindi nabigyan ng pagkakataon na marinig namin kung mayroong basehan iyong reklamo,” she said.
[Translation: There has been no chance for them to express and for us to hear if their complaint has a basis.]
Earlier, a group led by lawyer Bruce Rivera, a staunch critic of Robredo, said that the bases of their impeachment complaint against her are betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution, and graft and corruption were the basis of their complaint.
In the latest Social Weather Station surveys of Filipinos’ trust in public officials, President Duterte enjoys “excellent” trust ratings, while Vice President Robredo stands lower with ratings of “good.”
READ: Trust in Duterte remains ‘excellent’ in first quarter of 2017
