PDP bet: No two-thirds Senate vote to convict VP Duterte if slate wins
Vice President Sara Duterte speaks during a press conference at her office in Manila on December 11, 2024. Philippine lawmakers on February 5 voted to send articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte to the Senate, a day before the current congressional session was set to end. (Photo by TED ALJIBE / AFP)
MANILA, Philippines — The two-thirds vote needed to convict Vice President Sara Duterte in her impeachment trial will not be attainable if all candidates under the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) slate enter the next Senate.
This is what PDP-Laban candidate Jayvee Hinlo promised supporters at the party’s proclamation rally at Club Filipino in San Juan City on Thursday.
“If we enter the Senate together, they will not have the two-thirds vote, no impeachment will happen,” Hinlo said.
“Even if the House of Representatives does 100 impeachment complaints, no impeachment will happen,” he added. “VP Sara, we are your allies. Nothing will happen to you.”
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PDP-Laban is chaired by former President Rodrigo Duterte.
READ: VP Sara Duterte impeachment trial starts after Sona – Escudero
Vice President Duterte was impeached on Feb. 5 by a petition signed by 240 House lawmakers.
The complaint was immediately transmitted to the Senate for a trial, but the upper chamber of Congress went on break for the election season without discussing the impeachment petition.
Despite calls for a special session to try the case against Duterte, Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero said the trial would start in the next Congress.
