Vice President Sara Duterte speaks to the members of the media and answers questions during a press conference at the OVP Central Office in Mandaluyong City on Friday, February 7, 2025. Arnel Tacson, INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives’ move to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte reflects the people’s decision, as almost 80 percent of all House members agreed with it, Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers said on Friday.
In a statement, Barbers said the number of lawmakers who signified their intention to support the impeachment is now at 240 — higher by 25 compared to the House members who signed and endorsed the fourth impeachment complaint last Wednesday.
This is already more than the constitutional requirement of having one-third of all House members — 102 out of 306 — to fast-track the transmittal of the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate, the lawmaker pointed out.
“The impeachment process is not just a political procedure; it is the voice of the Filipino people speaking through their elected representatives,” said Barbers, who also signed the verified complaint.
“Almost 80 percent of Congress signed the impeachment, [and] over three-fourths of the entire House of Representatives said this should continue. That’s more than the requirement of having one-third of all members for the articles to be transmitted immediately to the Senate,” he added in Filipino.
Barbers also said the number of House members who signed the complaint is a “supermajority mandate” that echoes the views of Filipinos.
“This is not a simple minority. This is a clear and concrete mandate from the elected officials of the people. This is the voice of the Filipino people,” he said in Filipino.
“Each signature for the impeachment is not a vote of a congressman, but the voice of millions of Filipinos we represent. The message of the people is clear: We need this process,” he added.
The House forwarded the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate last Wednesday after 215 lawmakers signed and endorsed the impeachment complaint.
Under the 1987 Constitution, an impeachment complaint could be immediately forwarded to the Senate for trial if over one-third of all House members have signed and endorsed the petition.
READ: House impeaches VP Sara Duterte, fast-tracking transmittal to Senate
On Thursday, 1-Rider party-list Rep. Ramon Rodrigo Gutierrez said that 24 more lawmakers signed the impeachment complaint, bringing the total to 239.
However, it is unclear if the lawmakers who failed to immediately sign the complaint would still be included in the amended complaint that would be resent to the Senate.
Before Duterte was impeached, a Social Weather Stations survey showed that 41 percent of Filipinos wanted her removed from office, 35 percent were against it, and 19 percent were undecided.
Several lawmakers said the figures reflect a growing sentiment against Duterte due to her failure to address issues, including the alleged misuse of confidential funds in her offices.
READ: Survey on VP Duterte’s impeachment reflects public outrage – lawmakers
No choice but to act
Barbers also echoed the sentiments of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who said that the House has no choice but to act on the impeachment complaints after three complaints were filed last December.
“Congress does not decide for its own sake. We were elected to be the voice of the people. And through the numerous signatures in favor of impeachment, it is clear that the people want this move,” he explained in Filipino.
“We would not back out of this. It is the constitutional duty of Congress. We cannot set aside impeachment complaints or address this through politics. Once it is filed, we have an obligation to address it and move with the process,” he added.
In a press briefing on Thursday, Marcos said there is nothing he can do to stop Duterte’s impeachment, even if he appealed to his allies in the House not to file raps against her.
According to Marcos, none of his allies filed the impeachment complaints as the three complaints submitted to the House last December were initiated by other groups.
READ: Marcos says nothing he can do to stop impeachment complaint
Barbers, meanwhile, assured the public that there were no external efforts to pressure House members, agreeing with Marcos that it would be hard to push 215 lawmakers to sign the verified impeachment complaint.
“When 215 lawmakers signed the complaint, and 25 more want to join, you cannot say that they were forced or manipulated. This is the true call from Congress that came from the people themselves,” he said in Filipino.