Lagman cautions against filing of impeach rap vs Duterte over intel funds

The Manila Times

Lagman cautions against filing of impeach rap vs Duterte over intel funds  Albay 2nd District Rep. Edcel Lagman on Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023, says that while transferring contingent funds from the Office of the President to the Office of the Vice President as confidential funds was "illegal," he believes that whether the act was an impeachable offense 'needs more study.'   VIDEO BY RED MENDOZA  Subscribe to The Manila Times Channel - https://tmt.ph/YTSubscribe    Visit our website at https://www.manilatimes.net    Follow us:  Facebook - https://tmt.ph/facebook  Instagram - https://tmt.ph/instagram  Twitter - https://tmt.ph/twitter  DailyMotion - https://tmt.ph/dailymotion    Subscribe to our Digital Edition - https://tmt.ph/digital    Check out our Podcasts:  Spotify - https://tmt.ph/spotify  Apple Podcasts - https://tmt.ph/applepodcasts  Amazon Music - https://tmt.ph/amazonmusic  Deezer: https://tmt.ph/deezer  Stitcher: https://tmt.ph/stitcher Tune In: https://tmt.ph/tunein   #TheManilaTimes  #impeachment  #duterte  #confidential  #funds

Transcript

00:00 Q. Do you think sarong is enough for impeachable violation?

00:10 A. I have not yet gone into that. It needs more intensive study. But I was just asked whether it's a culpable violation of the Constitution. I said it may not be because when you say culpable, it's an extreme case of liability or guilt.

00:32 But in this case, it's possible there was a mistake in the interpretation of the pertinent regulations.

00:39 Q. So it's only a mistake? Do you see it as a mistake?

00:43 A. Yes. It's wrong. It might be invalid but it might not be a basis for a culpable violation of the Constitution.

01:02 Q. What are the funds from the President's contingent fund?

01:16 A. For a release in the nature of a confidential fund. And there is no confidential fund in the first place because otherwise it will be a derogation of the right of Congress because the Congress has said that no funds will be there because we didn't appropriate any funds.

01:37 And even the Vice President then, Vice President Robredo, didn't ask for those confidential funds. There is no confidential fund in the office of the Vice President in 2022.

01:51 Number two, the contingent funds cannot be used for confidential funds.

02:00 Q. So is there invalid but not impeachable?

02:03 A. Let other people think about that. But to my mind, I already told you that it might not be a stream case of culpable violation of the Constitution.

02:16 [Silence]

Transcript

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