MANILA, Philippines – Naiiba ang ikaapat na impeachment complaint laban kay Vice President Sara Duterte dahil nakatuon ito sa kanyang taunang Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN).
Ang verified complaint na inihanda ni abogado Nathaniel Cabrera at inendorso nina La Union 1st district Rep. Paolo Ortega V at Manila 6th district Rep. Bienvenido “Benny” Abante Jr. ay may 69 pahina.
Ayon sa dokumento, pangunahing batayan ng impeachment at posibleng pagpapatalsik kay Duterte ang kanyang SALN disclosures at umano’y hindi maipaliwanag na yaman.
Hiniling ni Cabrera sa Kamara na maglabas ng subpoena para sa bank records na sumasaklaw sa deposits, withdrawals, transfers at iba pang account activity mula 2019 hanggang 2025.
Iminungkahi rin niya ang pakikipag-ugnayan sa Commission on Audit (COA), Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), at Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC).
Iminungkahi rin sa reklamo ang pagbuo ng isang independent forensic accounting team upang ikumpara ang SALNs sa mga bank at property records.
“To determine the existence and extent of unexplained wealth and SALN violations, I respectfully request that this Honorable House of Representatives, through the appropriate committee, take the following actions,” saad ni Cabrera.
“Issue subpoenæ for bank records (deposits, withdrawals, transfers, account openings and closures) for accounts held by Respondent, immediate family members, known associates, and corporate entities plausibly connected to Respondent for the period 2019–2025; Order preservation of vault inventories, sealed envelopes, and any physical documentary evidence referenced in Joint Circular No. 201501 pending forensic review; Authorize coordination with COA, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), the AntiMoney Laundering Council (AMLC), and other competent authorities to obtain financial intelligence and to trace crossborder transfers; and Commission an independent forensic accounting team with experience in public corruption cases to produce a detailed tracing report reconciling SALNs with bank and property records,” ayon sa complainant.
Ayon kay Cabrera, ang mga kahilingang ito ay nakabatay sa kapangyarihan ng Kamara na magsagawa ng imbestigasyon sa impeachment proceedings at sa mga desisyon ng korte na nagpapahintulot na mabuksan ang bank secrecy kung may isyung katiwalian o hindi maipaliwanag na yaman.
Dagdag pa niya, ang naturang mga gawain, “if established, constitutes betrayal of public trust, a culpable violation of constitutional duties to disclose, and may give rise to criminal liability under applicable statutes”.
“The legal bases for this article include the constitutional requirement for public disclosure of assets, R.A. No. 6713 (Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees), jurisprudence recognizing exceptions to bank secrecy in corruption and bribery cases, and this Honorable House of Representatives’ investigatory powers in impeachment proceedings,” paliwanag niya.
Pormal na inihain ang reklamo sa House Secretary General noong Miyerkules, Pebrero 18, at ipinasa sa tanggapan ni Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III kinabukasan.
Sa ilalim ng 1987 Constitution, maaaring mapatalsik ang isang impeachable officer tulad ng Bise Presidente dahil sa culpable violation of the Constitution, treason, bribery, graft and corruption, other high crimes, o betrayal of public trust. RNT/MND
