Support for the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte is expected to surpass the halfway mark in the House of Representatives, according to lawmakers monitoring internal discussions across party lines.
Janette Garin, a deputy speaker, said the numbers being discussed could exceed the minimum requirement needed to elevate the case to the Senate, which only requires one-third of the chamber’s membership. She pointed out that even within Lakas-CMD, which has more than 80 members, a significant portion may back the move, though not all are expected to vote the same way.
Garin explained that while the evidence presented during committee hearings has not been countered by the vice president, individual lawmakers may weigh other factors before deciding. “Ayaw nila na magkaroon ng political enemies… Lalu na kapag sabihin na natin ‘yung geographical location… kapag ang distrito mo ay nasa Mindanao, minsan kailangan mong balansehin,” Garin said.
She added that some members have reportedly been approached to shield the vice president, though she did not identify who initiated such efforts.
Within Lakas-CMD, no unified position will be enforced, allowing members to cast their votes independently. Garin described a series of internal consultations, including small group and virtual meetings, where lawmakers gauged each other’s leanings. “In the case of the impeachment of the Vice President, nagkakaroon ng mga small meetings. Kanya-kanyang meeting, kanya-kanyang partido. Kami naman sa partido Lakas ay nagkaroon ng I think two or three meetings. ‘Yung iba nga Zoom. Ang pinag-uusapan naman siyempre doon sa meeting is sino ‘yung sang-ayon, sino ‘yung hindi. Para naiintindihan ng partido ‘yung stand,” Garin said.
Separately, party-list representatives are also expected to deliver substantial backing. Terry Ridon said more than half of lawmakers from their bloc may support the complaint.
Concerns over alleged pressure tactics have also surfaced. Paolo Duterte claimed that budget allocations and Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs) were being used to influence votes. “Ayos ‘yan ah—accountability na may kasamang kondisyon,” Duterte said in a social media post of the supposed threat. “Pati raw sa Senado, may mga kumakausap na. Busy ang iba—hindi sa pag-aayos ng problema ng bayan—kundi sa pag-aayos ng boto,” he added.
Those assertions were rejected by several House members, including Ridon, who dismissed the claims outright. Joel Chua also questioned the absence of the vice president’s allies during key proceedings. “Wala namang ganoon,” Ridon said. “Bakit hindi po sila nagpakita noong kasagsagan ng committee hearing?…Tatlo po ang Duterte na nakaupo bilang myembro ng Kamara. Bakit ni anino po ng bawat isa po sa kanila ay hindi nakita?” Chua added.
Garin urged that allegations be backed by evidence rather than hearsay. “I believe the best way forward is to put faces on those accusations. Mahirap kasi ‘yung sabi-sabi… Kasi sa panahong ito, ang daming fake news,” she said.
Meanwhile, legal implications were raised regarding the vice president’s strategy. Ridon said participation in a potential Senate trial could affect a pending petition before the Supreme Court of the Philippines that questions the constitutionality of the process. “I think it would have the effect of essentially waiving their reliefs at the level of the Supreme Court… in the event that they actually participate in the impeachment proceedings,” he explained.
He further criticized the approach as inconsistent. “This is bad faith legal strategy on the part of the vice president. Kumbaga, sa isang bahagi, china-challenge mo ‘yung entirety of the proceedings, pero sa pangalawang bahagi… magpa-participate kami dyan,” Ridon said.
