‘Stronger proof’ sought in VP ouster

THE House of Representatives’ second‑largest political party urged complainants in Vice‑President (VP) Sara Duterte‑Carpio’s impeachment efforts to present new evidence, warning that a weak case was unlikely to gain their support, its chairman said on Monday.

Antipolo Rep. Ronaldo V. Puno said the National Unity Party (NUP) does not want to reduce the impact of the impeachment process by backing what it described as weak cases and will call for “stronger proof” for Ms. Duterte’s ouster proceedings.

“We will closely observe the hearings and carefully evaluate the evidence that will be presented,” he said in a statement. “We hope the committee will reveal stronger proof and, if warranted, the proverbial ‘smoking gun’ that would justify elevating the matter to the Senate.”

“The NUP does not want to send a weak case to the Senate only for it to be summarily dismissed,” he added, noting that a flimsy complaint could “weaken the credibility of the impeachment process and diminish the gravity of this constitutional mechanism.”

The House Justice Committee last week found two out of four complaints against Ms. Duterte were sufficient in substance, moving them to the next step of the impeachment process that will determine whether the charges should be elevated to the Senate for trial.

The Vice-President faces a range of accusations, including claims she misused hundreds of millions of pesos in secret funds under the Office of the Vice-President and the Education department during her tenure as its secretary.

Filings made also include accusations she amassed wealth disproportionate to her income, efforts to destabilize the government and plotting to assassinate President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., his wife and former Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, charges which Ms. Duterte has denied. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio