MANILA — A fourth impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte may be filed at the House of Representatives next week, according to House Secretary General Reginald Velasco.

He said the information was relayed to him by a member of the House majority, and he expects the filing of the fresh complaint on Monday.

“There are also some members who are still requesting for an extension because they are thinking of filing another complaint… a fourth complaint. Wala pang sinabi kung ilan ‘yung mag-i-endorse noon. Basta sinabi lang to wait for the fourth complaint,” Velasco said.

“If they file it on Monday, I will have to make a decision whether I will then refer it to the Speaker or delay it further, because, again, I'll refer this to the legal department for study, if there will be a fourth complaint,” he added.

A different set of around 10 to 12 congressmen, meanwhile, are planning to endorse one of the three impeachment complaints previously filed, according to Velasco. He said they come from both the majority and minority blocs at the lower chamber, but they have yet to mention which of the three complaints they will endorse.

“Well, there are some House members kasi, who requested they'd be given another time because they would like to endorse one of the three complaints filed so far,” Velasco said.

The first impeachment complaint against Vice President Duterte, endorsed by Akbayan Party List Rep. Percival Cendaña, cited alleged culpable violations of the Constitution, graft and corruption, bribery, betrayal of public trust and high crimes as grounds.

VP Sara Duterte faces impeachment complaint

The second impeachment complaint endorsed by three Makabayan bloc congressmen cited alleged betrayal of public trust as the sole ground.

VP Sara Duterte faces second impeachment complaint

While the third impeachment complaint endorsed by Camarines Sur 3rd District Representative Gabriel Bordado Jr. and AAMBIS-OWA Party List Representative Lex Anthony Colada, cited alleged culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, plunder, malversation, technical malversation and bribery.

Priests, NGO members file 3rd impeachment complaint vs VP Sara Duterte

All three complaints mentioned the alleged irregularities in the utilization of confidential funds by offices led by Vice President Duterte, which she previously denied.

House Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers Party List Representative France Castro, one of the endorsers of the 2nd impeachment complaint against Duterte, plans to call for a meeting with other complainants and endorsers to unify efforts in getting the impeachment complaints to move forward.

Castro is eyeing to schedule the meeting within the second or third week of January. She said they are also planning a “big” mobilization to push for the impeachment complaints.

“Kami ay nagbabalak na magpatawag ng meeting doon sa mga nag-endorse at saka ‘yung mga nag-file ng impeachment complaint para magkaroon ng isang effort para ma-push natin itong Marcos government, itong Marcos administration, at saka syempre ‘yung House leadership na rin para ituloy na itong impeachment. Kasi sa survey nga, halos more than 50 percent ang talagang… mayroon silang posisyon na talagang ituloy itong impeachment complaint,” Castro said.

“Tatlo na ‘yan. Mahirap na patagalin pa ‘yan. Nakita naman na natin ‘yung ginawa talaga noon ni Sara Duterte doon sa mga mamamayang Pilipino, sa pondo, tapos hindi rin naman talaga siya fit doon sa kanyang katungkulan as Vice President sa mga pinaggagawa niya in the previous,” she added.

“At naghahanda rin kami ng malaking mobilization this month para i-push, kulang na lang sabihin ko, i-pressure ang Marcos administration para mabago ‘yung kanyang position doon sa impeachment,” Castro noted.

Lawyer Amando Virgil Ligutan, who represents the complainants in the third impeachment complaint against Duterte, expressed openness to meeting with other complainants and endorsers.

“Personally, we don’t know each other… but since we are bound by a common cause, why not? We are very much willing to meet with them… We filed separate impeachment complaints, but we are bound by the same goal, he said.

As of Thursday, the three impeachment complaints against Duterte are still with the Office of the House Secretary General, and have yet to be referred to the Office of House Speaker Martin Romualdez. Velasco said that the complaints are still undergoing verification by his office’s legal team, but it is expected to submit a recommendation on Monday.

Castro called on the House leadership and her fellow lawmakers to act on the impeachment complaints without the influence of other groups or personalities.

“Well, sa akin nga, dapat nga aksyunan na ito ng leadership. Kasi kung wala nang inaantay na another complaint, kasi ang taumbayan talagang nag-aantay na nitong proceedings noong impeachment complaint... Baka kasi nagpapadala ang leadership doon sa sinasabi ni President Marcos at saka ‘yung mga banta ng ilang mga religious group kaugnay doon sa posisyon nila sa impeachment," she said.

"Kaya sana huwag magpadala ‘yung ating mga kasamahan dito sa Kongreso, sa mga religious group... na nagsasabi na huwag ituloy itong impeachment complaint, dahil gusto natin talaga ma-punish ang opisyal na gumagawa ng katiwalian o graft and corruption sa pondo ng mamamayan,” Castro said.

The lawmaker admitted that until Thursday, their signature campaign seeking for the support of at least 1/3 of House members only managed to secure pledges instead of actual signatures.

But Castro refused to interpret it as the House majority being “cold” about the impeachment complaints against Duterte.

“Hindi naman siguro malamig. Baka talagang… pinag-aaralan pa nila. Pinag-aaralan pa nila ‘yung sitwasyon at pinag-aaralan pa rin nila ‘yung party decisions nila,” she explained.