House may send Duterte impeachment to Senate next week – Ridon
MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives may transmit the Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte to the Senate next week, with nearly 200 lawmakers backing the complaint, Bicol Saro Rep. Terry Ridon said Tuesday.
He said “major political parties” are included in the initial vote count, which already surpasses the threshold needed to elevate the case and is nearing the tally from Duterte’s impeachment last year.
“At the very best, we would want to see more than 250 [votes],” Ridon, a member of the House committee on justice, told reporters.
“The trial will definitely proceed at the level of the Senate,” he added. “We will send it by next week to them.”
On Monday, the justice panel unanimously voted to send its impeachment report detailing allegations of corruption and constitutional violations against Duterte to the House floor, setting it for a vote by the 318-member chamber.
The report and corresponding charges, amended with minor revisions, were sent to the House Rules Committee led by Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” Marcos, the chamber’s majority leader and the president’s son. The panel will decide when it will be taken up on the floor.
“The committee report resolution and Articles of Impeachment are being filed today,” Ridon said. “We are expecting it to be at the plenary today.”
READ: House can muster over 200 votes to impeach Duterte – insiders
READ: Ridon: ‘List’ of solons withdrawing impeachment support bears fake name
Once taken up in plenary, the report will be sponsored by members of the justice panel and may be questioned by other lawmakers.
Duterte will face a trial at the Senate if impeached by the House, which is dominated by allies of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., her former ally with whom she ran on a joint ticket and won by a landslide in 2022.
Duterte has been accused of misusing P612.5 million in confidential funds released to her office and the Department of Education when she was its secretary. A Commission on Audit notice had already flagged the spending and ordered its return to government coffers.
The vice president has also been accused of amassing wealth beyond what her declared income would allow and of plotting to assassinate Marcos, the First Lady, and a former House speaker. She has also been linked to alleged efforts to destabilize the government.
A report of bank transactions presented to the House committee showed billions of pesos flowing through Duterte’s accounts that did not match her declared annual wealth. The National Bureau of Investigation also found that threats she made against the Marcos family posed a security risk.
At least 106 lawmakers must back the impeachment complaints before they can be transmitted to the Senate, which will try Duterte. Two-thirds of the upper chamber, or 16 votes, are needed to convict her. She would be removed from office and perpetually banned from holding public office if found guilty. /mcm
