“Ang inyong Duterte Youth Partylist ang kauna-unahang mag-f-file ng impeachment complaint laban kay Pangulong Bongbong Marcos Jr. dahil po pinayagan nya na dalhin ang isang Pilipino, si dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte, sa kamay ng mga dayuhan.”
This was the announcement of Duterte Youth party-list chairperson Ronald Cardema Thursday afternoon as they went to the House of Representatives to file an impeachment complaint against president Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
He was accompanied by his wife, Duceille Marie, to personally file the complaint, citing grounds of violating sovereignty after Marcos permitted the arrest of former president Duterte.
“Noong pinayagan ni Pangulong Marcos na i-surrender ang isang Pilipino sa kamay ng mga dayuhan, isinurrender na rin ang soberanya ng bansa. Kaya dapat po, mayroong managot sa ganyang pangyayari sa ating bansa, or else, pwedeng ulit-ulitin po ‘yan. Ang pwede lang pong ikaso sa isang Presidente ay ang impeachment complaint,” Cardema added.
Despite this move, the party failed to formally file the raps as the Office of the Secretary General, who shall receive the complaints, has been on strategic planning since May 6.
“Ang sinasabi po kanina, hindi nila ire-receive kasi wala raw si Secretary General. Pero nakalagay po sa rules ng House of Representatives Impeachment Proceedings, “it is the Office of the Secretary General who will receive. Yung opisina ang magrereceive, hindi ‘yong absent na tao,” he further explained,
After the failed attempt, Cardema emphasized that they will try again next week to file the complaint.
In an immediate response, House Speaker Martin Romualdez noted that there is not much the Congress can do regarding the complaint, as the session is in recess.
On the other hand, Malacañang Palace has acknowledged the right of the said party to seek for an impeachment but strongly affirmed that the complaint has no basis.
“Karapatan po nila kung nais po nila magsampa. Pero inuulit po natin, ang complaint na ito, sa aking pagtingin, ay walang pinaghuhugutan. Ang pangulo at ang administrasyon ay gumaganap lamang ng kanilang katungkulan, at ang batas ay pinapairal,” Castro emphasized.