00:00For the first time in Philippine history, a sitting vice president has been impeached by those of representatives.
00:06This comes after the lower house moved to impeach the VP with 215 lawmakers voting in favor of the decision.
00:16PTV's Melach Lesmora has the details.
00:20Ours is a congress that does not shy away from its responsibility to our people.
00:44We are not here to protect the powerful. We are here to serve the people.
00:50To stand for what is just and to ensure that no one is beyond the reach of the law.
00:57This was the message of House Speaker Martin Romualdez as the House of Representatives adjourned its session tonight.
01:04Earlier in a historic move, the lower house impeached Vice President Sara Duterte citing a series of grave allegations.
01:12215 lawmakers crossing party lines voted to approve the seven articles of impeachment,
01:18marking the first time in Philippine history that a sitting vice president faces impeachment.
01:23The move sets the stage for a Senate trial that could determine whether Duterte will be convicted or acquitted.
01:30There is a motion to direct the Secretary General to immediately endorse to the Senate the impeachment complaint.
01:38Having been filed by more than one third of the membership of the House, or a total of 215 members, is there any objection?
01:47The chair hears none. The motion is approved. The Secretary General is so directed. The session is suspended.
01:57The impeachment complaint against Vice President Duterte revolves around six major allegations,
02:09which includes alleged conspiracy to assassinate the President, First Lady, and the House Speaker,
02:14malversation, bribery and corruption, unexplained wealth, involvement in extrajudicial killings, and alleged destabilization.
02:22During the plenary session, the House also elected the 11-member House Prosecution Panel
02:27composed of Congressman Jervie Luistro, Romeo Acop, Roge Gutierrez, Joel Chua, Jill Bongalon, Loreto Acharon,
02:35Marcelino Libanan, Arnan Panaligan, Isabel Maria Zamora, Lawrence Defensor, and Jonathan Keith-Flores.
02:42I'm honored to be selected as one of the prosecutors. I think this impeachment process is a good venue.
02:49This is a good opportunity to lay the evidence for this impeachment complaint.
02:54And it's also the perfect opportunity for the Vice President herself to be given due process.
03:00A prayer vigil was held earlier by groups pushing for Duterte's removal.
03:05They said even before, they can truly feel already that they are about to achieve their goal.
03:11Our reckoning with Duterte has already started.
03:15Our reckoning with their abuses in their position, their abuses in our country's coffers has already started.
03:21So, Duterte's true date is almost here.
03:23You know, we can feel it. We can feel it. Our gut feel is telling us that we got it. We got it.
03:29We finally made it. You know, when pieces of evidence are presented to the members of the Senate,
03:35it will be hard for them not to convict the Vice President.
03:40From PTV, Melalas Moras, Balitang Pambansa.
