Vice President Sara Duterte speaks to the media, December 11, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Some congressmen, including at least one party leader, have grown cold on the impeachment efforts against Vice President Sara Duterte, according to House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability Vice Chairperson and Manila City 6th District Representative Bienvenido Abante Jr. 

He cited reservations regarding the “limited time” and the “readiness” of both the lower and upper chambers to tackle the complaints during the 19th Congress. Abante also raised doubts on its chances in the Senate at this time. 

“As far as my discussion with some congressmen is concerned, ito passing lang naman ito... I think in a way they're cool about it. We have some reservations,” he told the media on Thursday. 

“I don't think that we are ready for that yet... Sa akin, the timeline is actually too short... We are not actually sure if the Senate would proceed with the impeachment or they will approve it,” Abante explained.

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The Manila solon said he will not throw his support behind the impeachment efforts at this time, but would back it in the next Congress.

“I've made up my mind that I'm not going to be a party of the impeachment now. Because it’s too short a time, and I think that we're not prepared for it. I would agree with the impeachment in the 20th Congress,” Abante said.

His fellow vice chair at the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, Iloilo 1st District Representative Janette Garin, believes it is still “highly possible” to get the needed number of congressmen’s signatures in order to elevate the impeachment complaint to the Senate.

“Sa pananaw ko, getting the one-third vote for the impeachment might really be highly possible. Why? Kasi aware ‘yung karamihan ng mga kongresista dun sa mga usapin as to the basis ng mga complaints,” she said.

Garin, however, raised a question whether the one-year ban on initiating a new impeachment complaint will apply if the process is not completed before the end of the 19h Congress. 

ACT Teachers Party List Rep. France Castro, an endorser of the second impeachment complaint against Duterte, insists there is no better time to tackle the impeachment complaints than now. 

“Ngayon na yung time at hindi rin tayo nakaka siguro kasi sa 20th Congress, kung ang magiging decision pa rin ay for impeachment. Baka magbago na rin. Dahil alam naman natin after the midterm election na pinaghahandaan na rin ‘yan ay presidential election,” she said. 

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Akbayan Party List Rep. Percival Cendaña, who endorsed the first impeachment complaint, said dilly-dallying on the matter has emboldened the Vice President to seriously consider running for President, and may be viewed as tolerating alleged abuse of power. 

“Sa bawat araw na nakaupo si VP Sara sa pwesto, we are enabling her to undermine our laws… Ngayon pa lang, lantaran na ang kanyang pang-aabuso sa kapangyarihan,” he said. 

“Ang panawagan natin sa leadership ng House of Representatives, huwag magpadala sa takot, bunga ng mga pressure na narinig nitong mga nakaraang panahon...Sundin natin ang ating moral obligation and constitutional duty,” Cendaña added.

Wearing peach-colored ribbons, groups pushing for the impeachment of Vice president Duterte gathered for a mass at the EDSA shrine on Thursday afternoon.

In an open letter by representatives of the three impeachment complaints, they reminded lawmakers that demanding accountability from those in power is a moral obligation, and that they should honor their constitutional mandate with courage and integrity.