Capiz lawmaker denies Sara impeachment payoff

By Felipe V. Celino

ROXAS CITY, Capiz — Capiz 1st District Rep. Howard Guintu denied receiving money to support the endorsement of House Committee Report No. 261, which contains the Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte.

Guintu said he signed the House resolution after the vice president failed to appear before Congress to answer corruption complaints against her.

“I decided to support the endorsement because of the probable cause found by the House Committee on Justice on the impeachment complaints against VP Sara,” he said.

He clarified that the resolution is not an impeachment but an endorsement to the plenary, which needs 106 votes, or one-third of the 318-member House of Representatives, to forward the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate.

The House Committee on Justice earlier found probable cause to impeach Duterte, sending the complaints to the full House for deliberation and voting.

Guintu said he believes the Senate would serve as the impeachment court, the proper venue for Duterte’s trial, where she could defend herself against the allegations.

Sen. Imee Marcos earlier said House members had been offered a big “incentive package” to get a “yes” vote in the impeachment of Duterte.

According to Marcos, the alleged offer included PHP 5 million in cash, PHP 3 million in additional monthly Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses, and PHP 150 million worth of projects, while those who refused would face a zero budget and possible legal charges.

Earlier, House Committee on Justice chair Rep. Gerville Luistro vehemently denied the existence of the alleged offer.

“I can speak for myself only and I deny that pronouncement of Sen. Imee with all due respect to her. Wala po akong na-encounter na ganyan,” Luistro said.