UNLESS fate would dictate another twist, Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment seemed certain with more than enough House members supporting moves to elevate charges to the Senate which would act as impeachment court.
A week before convening the plenary, early tallies at the House of Representatives showed 137 congressmen already gave assurance to vote in favor transmitting the Articles of Impeachment that was earlier approved by the House Justice Committee.
Only 106 votes are needed to elevate the charges to the Senate, which will act as an impeachment court and try Duterte.
DOMINANT PARTIES
The figure (137) represents congressmen from two most dominant political parties in the lower chamber — Lakas-CMD, led by former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, and Antipolo Rep. Ronaldo Puno’s National Unity Party (NUP).
“As we go through the evidence, our position has become clear and polished — the vice president should be impeached,” Tingog partylist Jude Acidre told reporters.
According to Acidre, 47 lawmakers from the Partylist Coalition Foundation, Inc. (PCFI) are also supporting the charges against Duterte.
“We have mustered more than enough numbers. The transmittal of the impeachment charges to the Senate has already been sealed,” he added.
Puno likewise hinted at the possibility of congressmen from the Duterte political bailiwick voting in favor of the impeachment charges.
MORE TO COME
Interestingly, Bicol Saro Rep. Terry Ridon has a bigger number in mind based on his own tally. According to Ridon, at least 215 congressmen will vote to elevate the charges.
“From consultations, we are now at around 215 House members supporting the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte,” he told reporters in a Viber message.
Deputy Speaker Ronaldo Puno and Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong’s estimate — 180 congressmen will seal Duterte’s fate.
In 2025, Duterte was “hastily impeached” by 215 House members, but the Supreme Court voided the articles of impeachment for procedural lapses and breaching a constitutional safeguard on multiple ouster proceedings within a year.
“The best result would be as much as or even higher than the impeachment we had last time,” Acidre said.
