Bicol Saro Partylist Representative Terry Ridon expressed confidence that the impeachment complaints filed in the House of Representatives against Vice President Sara Duterte will be given due course in the Senate.
In an interview during Isyung Pambayan on Sunday, Ridon cited recent developments in the House Committee on Justice hearing, where lawmakers discussed alleged financial movements totaling ₱6.7 billion in bank transactions linked to Vice President Duterte and her husband, Atty. Mans Carpio, over several years.
Ridon said he believes this information alone could convince senators that there is basis for the impeachment complaint.
"'Yun pong P6.7 billion na pumasok, lumabas, gumalaw sa accounts po ng mag-asawa, mabigat pong ebidensya talaga yan e," said Ridon.
"Sa tingin ko doon pa lang po makukumbinsi na yung mga Senador na may batayan ito pong impeachment laban sa Pangalawang Pangulo."
The lawmaker also believes that previous hearings have probable causes, which include the confidential funds and unexplained wealth of the Vice President.
"Tingin ko sapat-sapat na, sobra-sobra pa ang pagpapakita ng probable cause on unexplained wealth at magri-rise po sa betrayal of trust at culpable violation of the Constitution. Tingin ko tapos na po yung usapan diyan," said Ridon.
Ridon said in the next hearing on April 29, they will decide if the boxes of Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) records will be opened.
Also, NBI Director Atty. Melvin A. Matibag was invited to the hearing to share what he knows about additional information regarding the alleged assassination plot made by Duterte against President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, First Lady Liza Marcos and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
Ridon says the alleged threat to the President may also have probable cause even without additional evidence.
"Ang totoo naman po, even without additional evidence to the threat, the video will speak for itself kasi nakita naman na natin doon, mayroong aktwal na pagbabanta laban sa Pangulo. At ang sabi pa nga niya doon ay, ‘no joke,’" said Ridon.
The House Committee on Justice only needs a majority vote of 21 out of 39 for the impeachment case to proceed in the Senate.
