Akbayan Partylist Rep. Perci Cendaña decried the Senate’s decision to archive Vice President Sara Duterte’s Articles of Impeachment on late Wednesday.
“Nakakahiya. Nakakahiya ang desisyon ng Senado patungkol sa impeachment complaint laban sa Bise Presidente. They chose to surrender their independence and willfully abandon their Constitutional mandate. Today, the Senate decided to become a Duterte Senate,” the lawmaker expressed in a statement Wednesday evening, August 6.
By abdicating its duty, Cendaña emphasized that the Senate was an acquiescent body that chose to tolerate the Vice President’s crimes, namely: the plunder of P612 million in confidential funds and the blatant abuse of power.
“Their disgraceful decision is a betrayal of the Constitution and a betrayal of the will of the people,” he said.
“This may have delayed our hopes for accountability and justice – but it has not ended it. Sa dulo, hindi pa nakakatakas si Vice President Sara Duterte sa kaniyang mga pananagutan. Patuloy na magbabantay at maniningil ang taumbayan. Tuloy ang laban,” his statement ended.
With 19 affirmative votes, 4 negative votes, and one abstention, the Senate, on late Wednesday, moved to transfer Vice President Sara Duterte’s Articles of Impeachment to the archives.
The decision came after Senator Joel Villanueva’s motion, citing the Supreme Court’s ruling over the case. Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero declared the impeachment complaint “null and void ab initio,” adding that the Senate did not acquire jurisdiction over the case.
Akbayan Partylist Rep. Rafaela David, Tindig Pilipinas Co-Convenor Kiko Dee, and other progressive leaders walked out of the Senate plenary room, giving a thumbs down, after the Senate moved to archive the impeachment complaint.
