Rep. Chua defends VP Sara's impeachment as legal

Rep. Joel Chua dismissed claims of political persecution surrounding the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte at the House of Representatives on Wednesday.

Chua stated that the process followed due legal procedures and noted that there were valid grounds for the complaints against her, emphasizing that the articles of impeachment are based on committee hearings held in recent months.

Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte, Sara's brother, criticized the move as politically motivated, but Chua countered that it was not rushed given previous filings and impending end of Congress.

The House approved the impeachment complaint with 215 votes, forwarding it to the Senate for trial based on seven articles including graft and corruption allegations.

Chua emphasized that the impeachment process reflects a separation of powers in the democratic system and is not influenced by executive branch directives, urging the Senate to convene immediately to begin the trial.