MANILA -- With one week left before Congress goes on break, only a few lawmakers from the minority and majority blocs of the House of Representatives have so far pledged to support the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte, which was endorsed by the three opposition congressmen.

 House Deputy Minority Leader France Castro said none has actually signed the resolution for impeachment based on the said complaint. She suspects many of her colleagues are still on a “wait and see” mode for the decision of their party on the matter, and for the possible third impeachment complaint, which is expected to be filed by a religious group next week.

 “Wala pa talagang nakapirma. Mga pledges lang. So mukhang next week pa magkakaalaman… Sa minority, siguro mga 5 or 6. Sa majority naman ay nagsasabi sila, siguro mga ganoon din ang number,” Castro said. 

“Parang ang nagiging attitude yata ngayon ng ating mga kasamahan, mayroon pa kasing third impeachment complaint, parang wait and see... Alam naman natin dito sa House, they go with the decision of their party. Kaya inaantay pa rin natin ang desisyon ng party nila, alin ba sa mga impeachment complaint ‘yung susuportahan, para mas mabilis na makausad sa Senate,” she added. 

Kabataan Party List Representative Raoul Manuel believes lawmakers from the House majority possibly want to ensure they have the needed support of 1/3 of House members first, in order to avail of the quicker route for the impeachment complaint. Under House rules, such a complaint/resolution may be endorsed by the House plenary straight to the Senate, without having to go through the House Committee on Justice.

Impeachment proceedings against Sara Duterte may face time constraints

 “Pwedeng sinisiguro rin ng majority ‘yung numbers, para smooth sailing na. At dahil automatic approved na ‘yun ng House, deretso na sa Senate ‘yung impeachment,” Manuel said. 

While Nacionalista Party stalwart and Surigao del Norte 2nd District Representative Robert Ace Barbers admitted that congressmen who belong to his party have yet to discuss the impeachment complaints against Vice President Duterte, he denied that they are waiting for the House Speaker’s signal regarding their action on the said complaints. 

“This is a conscience (vote). If ever you will take a position, dapat pag-aralan mo. Dapat sarili mong conviction, sarili mong opinion doon sa usapin,” Barbers said. 

He believes the impeachment proceedings could face time constraints considering the remaining days before the May polls.

2025 polls, end of 19th Congress complicate hypothetical impeachment — Escudero

 “Medyo ipit sa oras. Napaka-slim ng window para mapag-usapan ito at ma-desisyunan ito, para sa akin. But of course, kung mayroon nang pag-uusap at mayroon nang pakikipag-ugnayan among all members, then maybe may mga paraan naman na nasa loob ng Constitution na pwedeng gawin para mas mapag-usapan pa na mas malaliman at mas malawak ang pag-uusap,” Barbers said. 

Castro disputed claims of time constraints regarding the impeachment process.

 “Kapag kasi nagdecide na ang parties nila na i-go itong impeachment complaint, mabilis naman ito, kahit after Christmas, kung magkakaroon ng special session, kahit during recess, ay magagawa naman ‘yan, kung mapapagkaisahan. Inaantay nalang nila siguro ‘yung decision din ng majority. So kung oras at oras, tingin ko mayroon namang oras,” she said. 

The Office of the House Secretary General is waiting for the possible third impeachment complaint, before transmitting all similar complaints to the Office of the House Speaker. House Secretary General Reginald Velasco said several congressmen also requested to be given time to evaluate the first two complaints filed. 

“We are waiting for another complaint/s to be filed next week. Several (congressmen) have also requested that they be given time to evaluate the two complaints filed for possible endorsement,” he said in a statement. 

Manuel, meanwhile, is hopeful about the chances of the impeachment complaint against Duterte, once it reaches the Senate. He cited the upper chamber’s decision to uphold the lower chamber-proposed budget cut for the Office of Vice President Sara Duterte next year.

 “In-uphold din naman ng Senado ang malaking budget cut, more than half nakaltas sa proposed na pondo ng OVP para sa 2025. Ibig sabihin, kinaya rin naman na gumawa ng ganoong malaking desisyon ang Senado na nakakabangga doon sa interes ni Sara Duterte, kaya tingin natin ay nandyan pa rin ang prospects na sang-ayunan ng Senado ang impeachment,” Manuel explained.