House can expedite VP Sara impeachment process – De Lima

House of Representatives Secretary General Reginald Velasco (left) on Monday receives from former senator Leila de Lima the impeachment complaint that civil society groups filed against Vice President Sara Duterte. At right is Akbayan Rep. Percival Cendaña, who endorsed the complaint. (LYN RILLON / INQUIRER)

MANILA, Philippines – The House of Representatives can fast-track the proceedings on the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte, if they wish, former senator Leila de Lima said on Tuesday.

De Lima, who also serves as the complainants’ spokesperson, said that despite challenges and time constraints, particularly with many House members preparing for the 2025 midterm elections, they can still expedite the impeachment process if they prioritize it.

“Naisip po namin ‘yan, na may constraints sa time. Pero ang pananaw ko po is kung gugustuhin nila, gagawan nila ng paraan. Kung gugustuhin nila, pwede nilang i-fast-track,” de Lima stated in a Teleradyo interview.

(We realize that there are time constraints. But my view is that if they really want to, they will find a way. If they want to, they can fast-track it.)

On Monday, House Secretary General Reginald Velasco explained that the impeachment proceeding will take at least 130 days.

According to Velasco, he and House Speaker Martin Romualdez have 10 session days to act on the impeachment complaint.

After which, the House Committee on Rules and the Committee on Justice will each have 60 days to deliberate.

“All in all, there are 130 days for this process. That’s days only, but some are session days.  So that’s what any impeachment complaint would face,” Velasco stated.

De Lima, however, pointed out  that the House need not wait for the 10-session-day period to pass before the impeachment complaint can be referred to the proper committees.

“Pwede naman hindi i-maximize ‘yung period na ‘yan. Pwede nilang bilisan, depende na ‘yan sa determination din nila,” she expressed.

(They don’t have to maximize that period. They can speed it up; it depends on their determination.)

She also mentioned that if the House is willing to act on the complaint promptly, it can file its own resolution of impeachment with the approval of one-third of its members.

“And then alalahanin niyo po, may isang third mode na sa tingin ko mas mabilis, ‘yung diretso na mismo ng Kamara, House of Representatives, na magpasa sila ng sarili nilang resolution of impeachment na aaprubahan ng one-third of their members,” de Lima said.

(And then remember, there’s a third mode that I think is faster, which is directly through the House of Representatives, where they pass their own resolution of impeachment, which can be approved by one-third of their members.)

De Lima, during the interview, reiterated that there are a total of 24 articles of impeachment in their complaint.

Among the 24, she highlighted that the most serious grounds for impeachment include the “misuse of confidential and intelligence funds, unliquidated expenses and cash advances, notices of disallowance and suspension, and charges from the Commission on Audit.”

All of which, according to De Lima, are considered acts of graft, corruption, and even plunder.