Lawmakers in the House of Representatives said they are close to securing enough votes to transmit the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte to the Senate.
Manila Third District Rep. Joel Chua made the statement ahead of the scheduled full impeachment hearings at the House Committee on Justice next week.
Chua said the earlier vote on the determination of sufficiency in substance, where 54 lawmakers voted in favor, indicates that the chamber may reach the required one-third vote to move the case forward.
He stressed that the House is not acting based on political convenience but is fulfilling its constitutional mandate.
Chua also rejected claims that the impeachment process is being rushed, noting that it is proceeding through proper procedures.
He added that lawmakers cannot ignore their responsibility despite political pressure or public debate surrounding the issue.
Meanwhile, Justice Committee Chairperson Gerville Luistro assured that the panel will follow a conservative and rules-based approach in handling the impeachment complaints against Duterte to ensure fairness.
Luistro emphasized that the committee is strictly adhering to established rules after a previous impeachment attempt during the 19th Congress failed due to technicalities.
She said the methodical approach aims to prevent the case from being questioned before the Supreme Court or being declared unconstitutional.
Luistro clarified that the committee’s role is limited to determining probable cause and that it does not function as an impeachment court.
