Metro Manila, Philippines – Vice President Sara Duterte has asked the Impeachment Court to dismiss the Articles of Impeachment, arguing that the case suffers from “fatal constitutional, procedural, and substantive defects.”
In the voluminous response to the articles submitted by her lawyers to the Senate on Monday, June 1, Duterte said the impeachment complaint failed to meet constitutional standards.
“The Articles of Impeachment suffer from fatal constitutional, procedural, and substantive defects. They fail to satisfy the standards required by the Constitution and, accordingly, should be dismissed,” she said.
A central argument raised by the vice president was that the House committee on justice allegedly exceeded its authority by conducting what its chairperson publicly described as a “mini-trial.”
“The Constitution vests in the House the power to initiate impeachment proceedings, but reserves the power to try and decide impeachment cases solely to the Senate,” the response read.
The defense said the proceedings were tainted by pre-judgment.
“Several members of the committee publicly declared that sufficient votes already existed to impeach the vice president and that the evidence against her was allegedly already overwhelming,” the filing stated.
Duterte further said her right to due process was violated after new evidence not included in the original impeachment complaints was introduced during committee hearings.
“This deprived her of a meaningful opportunity to address the allegations against her and constitutes a fundamental violation of due process,” the document said.
The vice president denied allegations involving confidential funds, the unexplained wealth and violations of the statement of assets, liabilities and net worth requirements.
“The Defense maintains that there exists no final determination by any competent tribunal establishing misuse, malversation, plunder, graft, or any unlawful disbursement of public funds.” it said.
“As to the allegations concerning unexplained wealth and purported violations of the Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) requirements, the Defense submits that the charges rest upon assumptions, conjectures, and speculative inferences,” the document stated.
The document stated that the articles failed to establish the constitutional grounds required for conviction, including culpable violation of the Constitution, bribery, graft and corruption, high crimes, or betrayal of public trust.
