House panel formally dismisses Duterte impeach rap

Members of the House of Representatives' justice committee has unanimously approved the panel's report on the dismissal of the impeachment complaint against President Rodrigo Duterte.

Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali, who heads the panel, said Monday's vote for the 15-page report was a "formality."

A total of 42 members of the committee voted for the dismissal of the complained filed by Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano.

Proceedings for the said complaint happened last week, which lasted a total of four hours. Alejano's rap was dismissed for insufficiency in substance.

The committee report will be sent to the plenary for approval.

Under Section 11 of the Rules of Procedure, the panel’s dismissal of the complaint may be overturned by a vote of at least one-third of all members of the House, or 98 members under the 17th Congress.

If the committee report is approved on plenary, no impeachment complaint against Duterte may be entertained for one year or until May 9, 2018. —ALG, GMA News